The Israel Defense Forces reported that a surface-to-surface missile was intercepted in the Red Sea region during the evening, according to RIA News. The army press service stated that the Strela missile defense system successfully neutralized the incoming threat before it could reach Israeli airspace. The military clarified that the aim was headed toward Israeli territory and that there was no prior warning indicating any launch into southern Israel.
These events unfold as part of a broader pattern of tension that began intensifying after October 7, when thousands of Hamas supporters surged into Israel from the Gaza Strip, attacking civilians and abducting more than 200 people. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the country to be at war, and a ground operation was launched with the stated objectives of rescuing hostages and dismantling Hamas operations in the region.
On January 15, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant addressed the nation, announcing that the defense forces had completed the phase of active hostilities in the northern Gaza Strip. He indicated that military efforts would shift toward reducing the intensity of clashes in the south of the Palestinian territory in the near term, signaling a potential recalibration of operational priorities in the wake of recent battles.
Reports also indicate that elements of the Israeli security apparatus carried out asset recovery and documentation seizures associated with Hamas, including the seizure of money and records from a Hamas bank vault. This move is presented as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt the group’s financing networks and to curb operational capabilities on the ground.