Armed Iraqi factions announced on Friday they had struck a vital target in Haifa, northern Israel, with the “Al-Arqab” missile. The Iraqi factions stated in their announcement, “Continuing our path in resisting the occupation and supporting our people in Palestine and in response to the massacres committed by the usurping entity against civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq attacked a military target in occupied Haifa at dawn on Friday.”
The statement added that the targeting was carried out using the “Al-Arqab” cruise missile, which is an advanced type. The Islamic Resistance confirmed that operations would continue at an escalating pace. The “Resistance Factions in Iraq” have adopted the policy of shelling areas in Israel and U.S. bases in Syria and Iraq in response to the Israeli war on Gaza.
Furthermore, the Yemeni movement “Ansar Allah” (Houthis) issued a statement about a drone attack targeting Tel Aviv early Friday, resulting in the death of a man and injuries to at least ten others. The statement highlighted that “the drone air force of the Yemeni armed forces carried out a high-quality military operation by targeting a significant site in the occupied area of what is called Tel Aviv, Israel,” noting that the operation was executed with a new drone named “Yafa,” capable of evading interception systems and undetectable by radars.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023, Iraqi factions aligned with Iran have conducted multiple attacks against Israeli targets. These factions, part of the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” (IRI), have claimed responsibility for 40 attacks on Israel from November 2023 to April 2024, targeting various locations including Eilat, Golan, Haifa, and Ben Gurion Airport.
The nature of these attacks varies, with many involving unspecified drone models, and others utilizing advanced missile systems like the Quds cruise missile. The weaponry descriptions are often vague, characterized by terms such as “suitable weapons” or “appropriate weapons.” This ambiguity extends to the exact targets of these attacks, which are frequently described in broad terms like “military target” or “critical target”.
The Iraqi factions have intensified their campaigns as part of broader regional resistance efforts against both U.S. and Israeli interests, motivated by the ongoing conflict in Gaza and alleged atrocities committed by Israeli forces. These groups have explicitly stated their intent to continue such attacks until what they perceive as aggressions against Palestinians are halted.
