Prepare for lift-off! Humanity may have just witnessed its first-ever space battle. Israel’s air force claims to have shot down an “aerial threat” outside of Earth’s atmosphere, marking a historic moment.
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) successfully intercepted a surface-to-surface missile allegedly fired from Yemen on October 30 using its Arrow system. The missile traveled an astonishing 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) before being taken down by the missile-defense system. The incident reportedly occurred above the Kármán Line, the official boundary of space, situated 100 kilometers (62 miles) above Earth. If confirmed, this would be the first military engagement to take place in space. Yemen’s Houthi militia has claimed responsibility for the missile launch.
According to Israeli Aerospace Industries, the Arrow 2 interceptor is capable of destroying incoming tactical ballistic missiles. It is specifically designed to operate both in the atmosphere and in space. However, this recent incident appears to be the first time these capabilities have been put to the test. The Arrow system, as reported by Haaretz, has only been used twice in the past 25 years and has faced criticism due to its high cost.
“The successful interception is about much more than protecting the residents of Eilat and dealing a blow to the Houthis’ boastfulness,” stated an Israeli defense official to Haaretz. The official went on to claim that Iran had supported the attack, adding, “Primarily, it proves to Iran, which was behind the launch and supplied the missile, that Israel has the ability to act against its missile program, and this has much broader implications for the regional conflict.
