Posted on 12/27/24
| News Source: Arutz-7
The US-supplied Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which has been stationed in Israel since October, successfully intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen early Friday morning.
This marked the system's first operational deployment in Israel.
Footage shared on social media shows the THAAD system launching an interceptor during the Houthi attack.
“18 years I’ve been waiting for this,” an American soldier can be heard saying in the video.
The missile fired by the Houthis triggered sirens at around 3:30 a.m. in many cities and towns across central Israel, the Shfela (Lowlands) and Judea.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stated that one missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory.
Rocket and missile sirens were sounded following the possibility of falling debris from the interception.
Paramedics and EMTs from Magen David Adom provided medical treatment to approximately 18 people who were injured on their way to a shelter, as well as two people who were treated for anxiety. No reports of injuries from shrapnel have been received.
The Pentagon confirmed in early October that the American THAAD missile defense system had arrived in Israel.