Yemeni drone strike on Tel Aviv to change equations in the region: Defense expert

By Alireza Kamandi

The recent drone attack on Tel Aviv was the result of careful planning and execution by the Yemeni military, says a defense analyst, noting it will change equations in the region.

In an interview with the Press TV website, Mike Mihajlovic, a political analyst, historian and defense technologies specialist based in Canada, said Israeli defense networks, especially radars and assigned missile batteries were concentrated on the east and north toward Lebanon when the attack took place.

He said the Yemeni military noticed a light coverage from the sea where besides Israelis there are always some NATO ships as well as the airfield on Cyprus that can cover the Mediterranean side.

Yemeni armed forces carried out an unprecedented drone operation against Israel on Friday, hitting an area near a US consular facility in Tel Aviv. The unmanned aerial vehicle bypassed the regime’s interceptor structure exposing the failure of its much-hyped air defense systems.

“Houthis decided to use the approach from the sea and Tel Aviv was and will be an ideal target for that kind of attack,” said Mihajlovic, who formerly also served as an army officer.

“The damage is not significant but the prestige of the Israeli integrated air defense system (IADS) is damaged and the panic can easily spread among the population” he added, noting that many settlers are already leaving.

“Bear in mind that this is just a preliminary attack. More will follow and directions will likely be from the sea coordinated with the overland attacks. This is going to stretch Israeli IADS to the limits and in the case that for example hundreds of these drones attack within a timeframe of 15 minutes, Israel will run out of missiles and will need to reload and that is the time when the second wave may come,” Mihajlovic told the Press TV website.

“IADS can track and engage maybe 60 percent maximum but the rest 40 percent will do havoc. In reality, with multidirectional and multilevel attacks with combined drones and ballistic missiles, Israel will be punched heavily and they will request direct US involvement. To be honest the US is already on the ground there but more integrated air defense systems will be required.”

Explainer: How Yemeni drone ‘Yafa’ struck Tel Aviv, adding to woes of Netanyahu

Yemeni military’s drone strike in the heart of Tel Aviv yet again laid bare the inefficacy of Israeli defense systems and gave nightmares to regime officials.

The drone, likely with some reasonable warhead size (I believe it is 40 kg) and a guidance system to hit the proximity of the designated target and any hit in Tel Aviv, can be considered a victory for the Yemeni military against the Israeli regime, the defense analyst stated.

“These drones are also capable of attacking NATO bases in Cyprus and that will be something that planners in Yemen need to think about. The material damage can't be big but hitting the British airfield and damaging infrastructure or maybe even some of the jets will be a blow to already weakened British prestige,” he stated.

“The reason for the attack is simple: British aircraft from Cyprus are involved in attacks on Yemen so the retaliatory attack is justified.”

He hastened to add that the Yemeni drone operation would change the equations in the region.        

“Drone operations from Lebanon and Yemen are another variable in the equation and these variables are a very serious one. It can strike from the sea or the land. The collective West can't produce sufficient quantities of ammo for both Ukraine and Israel depending on these supplies,” Mihajlovic noted.

“If the time comes that the West needs to choose between Israel and Ukraine, highly likely Ukraine will go down the drain.”

He said Yemen should continue with the successful naval blockade that will slowly strangle the Israeli economy adding that Houthis need to increase drone, cruise missile, and ballistic missile attacks.

Mihajlovic, who is also a historian, differentiated between Arab people and Arab governments.

“Governments in some of those countries are running on the "baksheesh economy". There are certain ruling circles that see only their personal interests and for the rest, they don't care. Israel and the West are playing on this dysfunctional Arab government card. Nobody asks ordinary people anything."

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk