DUBAI: The Israeli military said on Thursday it had intercepted two missiles launched from Yemen before they crossed into Israeli territory, after sirens sounded in several areas in Israel including Jerusalem.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have been launching missiles and drones at Israel in support of Hamas fighters. The United States has been striking Houthi strongholds in Yemen since March 15, with President Donald Trump vowing to hold Iran responsible for any attacks carried out by the group.
The Houthis said later on Thursday that they had launched two missiles, one of which they said was hypersonic, toward Israel’s main air gateway, Ben Gurion airport, and an unspecified military target in the Tel Aviv area.
The group also claimed to have launched missiles and drones toward warships in the Red Sea, including the Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier.
Italy’s ITA Airways said it had to divert one of its flights because of the missiles, and that the flight landed in Tel Aviv safely.
The Houthis are an armed movement that has taken control of the most populous parts of Yemen despite nearly a decade of Saudi-led bombing.
The group is also part of what Iran calls the “Axis of Resistance” — a network of anti-Israel, anti-Western regional militias that also includes the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, whose capabilities Israel significantly reduced in an air and ground campaign last year.
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Israel intercepts two missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthis
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Israel intercepts two missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthis
- The US has been striking Houthi strongholds in Yemen since March 15
- The Houthis said later on Thursday that they had launched two missiles, one of which they said was hypersonic
Iran launches three satellites into space from Russia
- Domestically built observation satellites marks new step for Tehran’s space program despite Western sanctions
TEHRAN: Iran launched three domestically built observation satellites into space from Russia on Sunday, state television reported, marking a new step for Tehran’s space program despite Western sanctions.
The country maintains that its aerospace industry is peaceful and complies with UN Security Council resolutions imposed over its nuclear program.
“Three Iranian satellites, Zafar-2, Paya and Kowsar 1.5, were launched into space by a Soyuz rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia,” Iranian television reported.
The satellites were to be used for “observation” and were designed by “the private sector,” the official IRNA news agency said.
Paya is Iran’s most advanced domestically produced imaging satellite, using artificial intelligence to improve image resolution, IRNA said.
It said the satellite would focus on water resource management, environmental monitoring and mapping.
The Russian Soyuz launcher was chosen because it is one of the most reliable in the world for transporting sensitive satellites, according to the Fars news agency.
Iran has carried out 10 satellite launches in the last two years, including one in July from the same launch site in Russia.
Western countries fear that these satellite launch systems incorporate technologies interchangeable with those used in ballistic missiles, potentially capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
Tehran denies those accusations and refutes that it is trying to acquire nuclear weapons.
The country maintains that its aerospace industry is peaceful and complies with UN Security Council resolutions imposed over its nuclear program.
“Three Iranian satellites, Zafar-2, Paya and Kowsar 1.5, were launched into space by a Soyuz rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia,” Iranian television reported.
The satellites were to be used for “observation” and were designed by “the private sector,” the official IRNA news agency said.
Paya is Iran’s most advanced domestically produced imaging satellite, using artificial intelligence to improve image resolution, IRNA said.
It said the satellite would focus on water resource management, environmental monitoring and mapping.
The Russian Soyuz launcher was chosen because it is one of the most reliable in the world for transporting sensitive satellites, according to the Fars news agency.
Iran has carried out 10 satellite launches in the last two years, including one in July from the same launch site in Russia.
Western countries fear that these satellite launch systems incorporate technologies interchangeable with those used in ballistic missiles, potentially capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
Tehran denies those accusations and refutes that it is trying to acquire nuclear weapons.
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