U.S. Army Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) launch base. File | Photo credit: AFP
An advanced U.S. military anti-missile system has been used in Israel to intercept projectiles for the first time since President Joe Biden deployed the system there in October, people familiar with the matter said Friday (December 2024). 27) told Reuters. .
THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System) was used to intercept a projectile from Yemen at some point in the past 24 hours, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity, saying its success would depend on analysis.
The Department of Defense did not respond to requests for comment.
Israel on Thursday (December 26, 2024) struck multiple targets linked to the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen, including at Sana’a International Airport, with Houthi media saying at least six people were killed. Ta.
The Houthis have repeatedly fired drones and missiles at Israel in an act of solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
In October, President Biden deployed the THAAD system built by Lockheed Martin Corp. to Israel, along with about 100 U.S. soldiers, to defend Israel. THAAD is essential to the U.S. military’s multi-layered air defense system and adds to Israel’s already strong anti-missile defenses.
After Israeli airstrikes, Yemen’s top UN aid official Julian Harness said on Friday (27 December 2024) that Sanaa airport is civilian infrastructure used by international aid workers to access northern Yemen. , he warned, “if that airport becomes unusable.” It would cripple humanitarian efforts. ”
“Parties to a conflict have an obligation to avoid attacking civilian targets,” he told reporters. “We don’t need to prove that we are civilians. They need to prove that we are attacking military targets. Sanaa airport has not been a military target since 2016.”
The United Nations has announced that more than half of Yemen’s population (approximately 18 million people) is in need of humanitarian assistance. Harness told reporters that the number is expected to rise to 19 million next year due to the country’s worsening economic situation.
He also said the airstrikes on Hodeidah port were of particular concern as Yemen imports about 80% of its food, making it an “absolutely essential” port.
“This is a civilian facility, there is no doubt about that. The United Nations is working to ensure that any damage to that facility will cause great suffering to the Yemeni people,” Harness said. said.
issued – December 28, 2024 5:51 PM IST
