The Patriot Missile System is not new to Saudi Arabia. They have had these missiles since the Iraq invasion. So, what happened here?
My first guess is Russia. If Russia can prove the US missile system is inferior in some way, that means countries will turn to Russian arms. But, who sold ballistic missiles to the Houthis?
Airports were the targets (click here).
...The coalition has launched thousands of airstrikes on the Iran-aligned Shiite Houthis, in attempts to roll back rebel gains and reinstate Hadi in the capital Sanaa.
Houthis have launched hundreds of ballistic missiles toward Saudi cities, with most of them intercepted by Saudi air defense forces.
The war has so far killed more than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, and pushed the Arab country to the brink of mass famine.
Whoever is helping with the delivery of Houthi missiles are now hacking into Saudi defenses. Why are the launchpads still intact in Yemen? Anti-aircraft? I would think the Saudis can 'track back' the ballistic missile launches and remove the launch site. Maybe that is just too much guesswork. If I were the Saudis I'd start guessing.
I bet real money the Israeli misfire wasn't a misfire at all.
March 26, 2018
The accidental firing (click here) of Israel's missile defense system reflects the growing tensions surrounding Gaza. The system may have been calibrated to a higher-than-usual level of sensitivity.
So much for an Iron Dome. I could simply have missed it, but, it seems to me there are fewer incursions into Gaza by Israel since the Iron Dome was instituted. Playing with Israel's air defense is really a bad idea.
I don't believe in coincidence.
March 26, 2018
Saudi air defenses (click here) shot down seven ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi militia on Sunday, with debris killing a man in what was the first death in the capital during the Saudi-led coalition's three-year military campaign in Yemen.
Saudi forces destroyed three missiles over northeastern Riyadh shortly before midnight, as well as others fired at the southern cities of Najran, Jizan and Khamis Mushait, the coalition said in a statement carried by state news agency SPA.
Two videos from Saudi Arabia published overnight seem to indicate a serious malfunction in the Patriot missiles that were supposed to intercept the incoming ballistic missiles fired by Yemeni rebels at the capital Riyadh....
