Yemen's Houthis penetrate Israel's missile defences for first time

Iran’s Houthi militia in Yemen penetrated Israel’s air defence systems with a cruise missile landing in southern Israel.
While the Israel’s Army did not explicitly name the Yemeni militia, it is widely believed to be part of ongoing operations by the group in the Red Sea.
The Army of Israel is currently investigating why the missile wasn't intercepted, citing the possibility that its flight pattern caught air defense operators off guard.
The Houthis, who rule north Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, also claimed responsibility for the missile attack, with spokesman Yahya Saree saying the Iran-aligned group had targeted southern Israel with missile fire.
The missile did not cause any damage or injury, but questions remain as to how the projectile made its way through Israeli defences.
The Houthis have attempted to strike Israel with ballistic missiles since the beginning of its war on Gaza last October, yet this marks the first time one has actually hit Israeli territory. Until now, all Houthi missiles have been shot down by Israel’s Arrow 1 or 3 missile defence systems. One possibility as to why it evaded Israel’s defences is that because of the "line-drive" trajectory at which cruise missiles fly, Israeli missile defence operators may have been caught by surprise, according to The Jerusalem Post.
The Houthis’ maritime assaults from the Red Sea region began in November, initiated by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
After Iran-backed Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, its relentless retaliation has seen Iran’s proxies attack the Jewish state and American targets, punishing the US for supporting Israel’s right to defend itself.
Their attacks have already disrupted maritime routes, compelling vessels to opt for longer journeys bypassing the Red Sea and Suez Canal.