Israel's Air Force intercepted three drones launched from the east, apparently from Yemen over the course of one hour on Thursday evening.
The first of them was intercepted shortly after 8:00 p.m., after an alarm was sounded in Kibbutz Gvulot in the western Negev. The other two drones were intercepted without any alarms being sounded. The IDF said that the third drone was intercepted before it crossed into Israeli territory. Residents in Gush Dan documented the moment the third drone was intercepted.
The drone attacks came hours after the IDF released data on missile and drone launches from Yemen since the beginning of the war, along with new recordings of interceptions. According to the IDF, since the beginning of the war the Houthis have launched about 40 surface-to-surface missiles, most of which were intercepted.
The interception of a UAV launched from Yemen, by an attack helicopter
(Video: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
"The IDF Aerial Defense Array intercepted most of the missiles that approached Israeli territory. So far, one fallen projectile has been identified, along with two partial interceptions that led to fragments falling in the area. The rest of the launches failed en route," the IDF reported.
In two of the cases, the missiles or large fragments hit in Jaffa and and hit the Ramat Ef’al elementary school in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv.
Additionally, the Houthi terrorist regime has launched approximately 320 UAVs toward Israel, over 100 of which were intercepted by the Israeli Air Force, according to he IDF. To date, two effective hits have been identified. The remaining UAVs either fell in open areas, failed to reach Israeli territory, or caused no significant damage.
Video documentation provided by the IDF show the interception of two drones - one by a fighter jet and the other by a combat helicopter. In addition, communications among troops were released from the interception of a surface-to-surface missile launched from Yemen on December 1.
Radio communications from the interception of a surface-to-surface missile launched from Yemen on December 16th, 2024
(Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
"Currently we see a target with a single trajectory toward Tel Aviv, the Gush Dan area," is heard over the radio, and then an announcement: "We have the capability... Updating ... lanched toward the target ... interception. We have a positive elimination assessment, with an explosion indication. Updating again, we have multiple positive indications of a successful interception."
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Damage caused by Houthi drone that struck an elementary school in Ramat Gan
(Photo: Jack GUEZ / AFP)
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Earlier this week, the IDF intercepted a missile launched from Yemen before it crossed into Israeli territory. Following the launch, a siren was sounded only in Moshav Talmei Elazar near Hadera. The Houthis announced that the target was the largest power plant in Israel, Orot Rabin near Hadera. They claimed that they launched a "hypersonic ballistic missile of the 'Palestine 2' model."
About a week ago, another missile was intercepted, setting off alarms in many communities in central Israel, including the Gush Dan, Sharon, the Shfela regions, and the Jerusalem area. A week earlier, the Houthis launched missiles at Israel five times.