Israel Shoots Down Cruise Missile Headed for Southern City of Eilat

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Amid Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza, and threats from Hezbollah on its northern border with Lebanon, on Wednesday the Israel Air Force intercepted a cruise missile heading toward the southern Israeli city of Eilat on the Red Sea, the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) reports. The missile did not enter Israeli territory, the IAF said.

The missile is believed to have been launched by the Shia Muslim Houthi rebel group in Yemen: the Iran-backed group fired a ballistic missile at Eilat on Nov. 9. That missile was shot down by Israel’s new Arrow 3 exoatmospheric hypersonic anti-ballistic missile, JNS reports.

In light of several missile and drone attacks from the Houthis – who declared they were joining Hamas in its war against Israel – the Israeli navy has deployed missile boats in the Red Sea “in accordance with the assessment of the situation and as part of the increased defense efforts in the region,” the IDF said.

Last week, the Houthis hijacked the Israeli-affiliated Galaxy Leader vehicle carrier ship on the Red Sea. Confirming the hijacking, the Israel Defense Forces said it was a “very grave incident” with global implications, JNS reports.

The Bahaman-flagged ship is registered by a British company and is part-owned by Israeli tycoon Abraham Ungar. “The ship departed Turkey on its way to India, staffed by civilians of various nationalities, not including Israelis. It is not an Israeli ship,” the IDF added.

The Houthis said in a statement Sunday that they hijacked the ship because of “brutal Israeli-American aggression” in the Gaza Strip, JNS reports.

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