A U.S. defense official confirmed that Israeli fighter jets launched ballistic missiles from the Red Sea, targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, on September 9th. This unconventional tactic, designed to circumvent Qatari air defenses and avoid traversing neighboring airspace, resulted in six deaths. The attack, which utilized an "over the horizon" approach, significantly escalated tensions in the region, undermining ongoing ceasefire negotiations mediated by Qatar in the protracted Israel-Hamas conflict.
The element of surprise was key to the operation's success. Launching from the Red Sea, a direction unlikely to be heavily monitored by Qatari or U.S. air defense systems based at Al Udeid Air Base, significantly reduced the probability of interception. Even with detection, the speed of the ballistic missiles, traveling at hypersonic velocities, would have made interception by Qatari Patriot missile batteries extremely improbable, according to missile expert Sidharth Kaushal of the Royal United Services Institute. Kaushal estimates the time from launch to impact was mere minutes, leaving little reaction time.
This strategic choice also held significant political implications. By avoiding overflights of Saudi Arabian airspace, Israel avoided potential conflict with a nation it has been seeking to diplomatically recognize. The attack, therefore, served multiple objectives: neutralizing high-value targets, showcasing Israel's advanced military capabilities, and subtly advancing its geopolitical interests.
While Israel has remained silent on the specifics of the operation, reports suggest approximately ten planes launched around ten missiles. The limited damage observed might be attributed to the use of an inert warhead, potentially a variant of the Sparrow missile, as speculated by missile expert Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. The use of such missiles is not unprecedented; Russia has employed similar tactics in the Ukraine conflict, and China recently displayed a nuclear-capable, air-launched ballistic missile.
The aftermath of the strike has been marked by conflicting accounts regarding the timing of warnings issued to Qatar. While the U.S. claims to have contacted Qatar immediately upon learning of the attack, Qatari officials contend that the warning arrived after the missiles impacted. The incident highlights the complexities and high stakes of the ongoing conflict, raising concerns about potential future attacks and further destabilizing an already volatile geopolitical landscape. The Israeli military, the Qatari government, and the Pentagon have not responded to requests for comment on this operation.
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Originally published at: https://apnews.com/article/israel-ballistic-missiles-red-sea-qatar-hamas-f630735dd4647ff722c6f90d0d5a83a7
