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An Israeli warship has fired Iron Dome interceptors at Houthi drones for the first time in the six-month conflict, according to the country's military.
The aerial defence system was designed for land use and has intercepted thousands of rockets from Gaza and Lebanon. Now it has been adapted for warships to counter the growing threat from missiles and drones fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels.
The naval version of the defence system is known as C-Dome.
Israel on Tuesday said the C-Dome had struck a “suspicious” target that entered the country's airspace near the southern city of Eilat.
Last week, a Houthi drone struck a small Israeli navy base in Eilat, hitting a warehouse close to a naval vessel.
The defence development comes as the US, Israel and allies scramble to find cost-effective ways of downing swarms of low-cost drones that cost from $20,000 to $200,000 and can fly low under radar beams for long ranges.
US and Coalition naval vessels trying to counter a Houthi blockade of the Red Sea have intercepted dozens of Houthi drones. However, in many cases they are using interceptor missiles that can cost between $1 million and $4 million.
The number of those weapons is limited, giving the Houthis the chance to gradually overwhelm naval defence systems.
C-Dome, by comparison, costs roughly $50,000 per launch.
By deploying the C-Dome, Israel is a step ahead of US efforts to put Patriot missile launchers – another air defence system designed for ground use – on to ships.
Using the Patriot system boosts the supply of available missiles but does not solve the cost challenge as they also have a high price tag.
On Monday night the Israeli military reported an alert in the area of Eilat, which was also targeted in February by intercepted ballistic missile fire from the Houthis, who are allies of Hamas.
“The target was successfully intercepted by the C-Dome naval defence system,” the military said in a statement released early on Tuesday.
No injuries or damage were reported.
A military spokesperson would not confirm whether the “suspicious” target had been a drone but told AFP this was “the first operational use of C-Dome”.
Mounted on Sa'ar 6-class corvettes, German-made warships, the C-Dome uses the same interceptor as the Iron Dome, according to state-owned operator Rafael Advanced Defence Systems.
Yemen air strikes
The use of C-Dome comes after the US military said on Monday that it had destroyed Houthi air defence and drone systems in the Red Sea area, with no injuries or damage reported to commercial, US and Coalition ships.
Central Command, the US military headquarters for the Middle East, said on X that its forces had destroyed an air defence system with two missiles ready to launch, a ground control station in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and one unmanned aerial system launched by the Houthis from Yemen over the Red Sea.
Houthi forces said on Sunday they had launched rockets and drones at British, US and Israeli ships, the latest attack in a campaign in support of Palestinians in the Gaza war.
Centcom said on Sunday that an anti-ship ballistic missile was launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen towards the Gulf of Aden, but no injuries or damage were reported by US, Coalition or commercial ships.
Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping through the Suez Canal, forcing firms to switch to longer and more expensive routes around southern Africa.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Read more about the coronavirus
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
The UAE's journey to space
