Hamas Claims to Have Launched 250 Kilometer Range Missiles into the Sea

Hamas stated that in a missile drill on Thursday, it fired missiles with a range of 250 kilometers towards the sea, which could pose a threat to 'all of Israel's territory.' According to Al-Mayadeen news network, Hamas launched at least 50 long-range rockets towards the sea, including the 'Ayyash 250' missiles, which can theoretically reach all of Israel. The report claims that Hamas had previously fired such a missile towards 'Eilat' in May 2021. This rocket is named after 'Yahya Ayyash,' a senior missile engineer of Hamas responsible for the deaths of dozens of Israelis before his assassination in 1996. Meanwhile, Israeli officials announced that the U.S. confirmed the sale of the Arrow-3 missile defense system from Israel to Germany on Thursday, August 17, 2023. According to Reuters, the value of this deal is $3.5 billion. Israeli officials previously stated that U.S. approval has paved the way for the delivery of this system to Germany in 2025 and its full operational deployment by 2030. The U.S. is a partner in the 'Arrow' project, which is jointly produced by the Israeli Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. American lawmakers visited the 'Hezbollah Tunnel' in Israel; Voice of America reported on the situation at the Lebanon border. Experts expressed concern about the activities of 19 proxy groups of the Islamic Republic around Israel. Israel rejected the possibility of establishing a consulate for the Palestinian Authority in Jerusalem. Hamas sentenced seven Palestinians to death on charges of 'collaborating with Israel.' A Palestinian attacker injured five Israelis; Hamas and Islamic Jihad called it heroic. A secret meeting of senior officials from the Islamic Republic and Hamas regarding the crisis in Israel was held. Hamas is unable to pay its employees' salaries in the Gaza Strip.