An Israeli Air Force (IAF) investigation published this morning (Sunday) determined that the missile that struck Jaffa was not intercepted due to a malfunction in the interceptor missile. This rules out the possibility that the Houthis used a more advanced missile with a maneuvering warhead, which had initially raised concerns.
Fear Allayed: The Missile Was Not Equipped with a Maneuvering Warhead
The strike in Jaffa occurred during the night between Friday and Saturday after the interception failed. Initially, there were suspicions that the ballistic missile launched by the Houthis featured a maneuvering warhead, differing from missiles previously launched. Such a missile would have made detection and interception more challenging.
However, the investigation revealed that it was not a missile with a maneuvering warhead. Instead, the malfunction occurred in the Arrow missile interceptor itself, which caused it to miss the ballistic missile. The IDF is now working in collaboration with defense industries to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Missile Strike in Ramat Gan Unrelated to the Jaffa Incident
Last week, a Houthi missile struck an elementary school in Ramat Efal, Ramat Gan, causing the building to collapse and damaging nearby structures and vehicles. Despite the similarity between the two cases, the military clarified that there is no connection between them.
In the Ramat Gan incident, the Arrow missile successfully intercepted the ballistic missile, but it failed to destroy its warhead, parts of which fell on the school, causing extensive damage. That attack occurred in conjunction with Operation “White City,” during which dozens of IAF aircraft targeted Houthi positions in Sana’a, Yemen’s capital.
Following Strikes: Concerns in Yemen Over Targeted Assassinations of Houthi Leaders
This morning, reports from Yemen suggested that senior Houthi officials might have been present at sites attacked by the Americans last night. The report adds to indications that the U.S. and Israel may be shifting their strategy from targeting energy facilities and economic infrastructure used by the Houthi regime to efforts aimed at assassinating key regime leaders.
Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a direct threat to the leaders of the Houthi terror organization following the strike, which occurred about 2,000 kilometers from Israeli territory:
“Israel’s long arm will reach you as well,” he warned.
Earlier, Abdul Karim al-Houthi, an uncle of the Houthi leader, told the Saudi TV network Al Arabiya that the terror regime fears the downfall of its leadership, similar to the fate of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. “Yemen is going through a dangerous phase that requires everyone to raise their level of alertness and responsibility to thwart the malicious schemes being plotted against it,” Al-Houthi stated.
