News - Middle East: Recent developments on the battlefield, particularly concerning Yemeni military operations, have revealed a stark contrast: growing Yemeni offensive and defensive capabilities versus a series of sequential failures and apparent fragility in the Israeli defense and offensive systems. This disparity has become a major topic in Israeli media itself, which has begun to acknowledge the advances of an adversary it once underestimated.

The recent Yemeni drone attack on Eilat sparked a storm of criticism and admissions of failure within the Israeli military establishment. Hebrew newspapers reported the following:

Embarrassment for the Air Force: The newspaper Maariv stated that the new Yemeni tactic "embarrassed the Israeli enemy's air force."

A Chain of Failures: A preliminary investigation by the Israeli Air Force indicated that a series of failures led to the non-interception of the Yemeni drone.

Late Detection: Israeli military sources admitted that the drone was detected only four minutes before it exploded, despite the operation of a Sa'ar 6-class missile ship equipped with advanced radar systems and a naval "Iron Dome" designed to counter drones. This failure prompted the immediate announcement of introducing "additional systems for early detection" and "new interception systems immediately."

In contrast, the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth acknowledged a "noticeable advancement in the capabilities of the Yemenis," both in the domestic production of advanced long-range drones and missiles. The paper admitted that "underestimating the Yemenis was a grave mistake." It noted that the goal of Israeli airstrikes on Yemen had not been achieved, and that the tighter the siege on Yemen, the more robust its fortified domestic production becomes, indicating a failure of the strategy to militarily pressure and paralyze local manufacturing capabilities.

For its part, Yedioth Ahronoth also confirmed a recommendation by Israeli intelligence to "continue operations against Yemen even if a ceasefire is reached in Gaza," considering the Yemeni threat to extend beyond missiles and drones to include military exercises simulating a new "Al-Aqsa Flood" type operation.

Regarding defensive capabilities, other Israeli newspapers revealed the extent of fragility on the home front. The Israeli outlet Calcalist pointed to "millions of settlers entering shelters" following a missile launch from Yemen, just hours after the aggression on Sanaa. Channel 14 highlighted that the Israeli raid on Yemen was nearly thwarted at the last moment, as Israeli aircraft faced danger over Sanaa's skies due to the launch of "advanced air defense missiles."

These developments coincided with an Israeli media report about an expanding Emirati role in Yemeni islands as part of a strategy to contain the Yemeni threat. The Israeli channel i24NEWS covered confirmations regarding the expansion of the Emirati presence on Yemeni islands, particularly the establishment of a base on the Yemeni island of Socotra, which is reportedly being prepared for American and Israeli interests.

According to the information, this base is used for intelligence and combat purposes against the Yemeni Armed Forces, with the installation of early warning systems to monitor drones and missiles heading towards occupied territories, all coordinated with the US Central Command.

The reports also noted attempts by Saudi Arabia to intercept a Yemeni missile heading towards occupied territories, within discussions to create a "regional naval alliance." This coordination confirms the clear alignment of Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the "Zionist-American camp" against Yemen, which is fighting with all its capabilities in support of Gaza.