Yemen’s Houthi rebels have declared the possession of a new hypersonic missile, as reported by Russia’s state media on Thursday. This announcement potentially escalates their ongoing assaults on shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding areas, amidst Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
According to the state-run RIA Novosti news agency, an unnamed official made the claim, although no evidence was provided. This revelation comes at a time when Moscow continues its assertive foreign policy amid the conflict in Ukraine.
For weeks, the Houthis have hinted at “surprises” they plan to deploy in their maritime battles against the United States and its allies. These allies have been able to intercept any missile or drone attacks aimed at their vessels in the Middle East waters so far.
Iran, the Houthis’ main supporter, asserts its possession of hypersonic missiles and has reportedly armed the rebels with such weapons. Integrating hypersonic missiles into their arsenal could pose a significant challenge to the air defense systems of the U.S. and its allies, including Israel.
A military official close to the Houthis stated, “The group’s missile forces have successfully tested a missile capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 8 and powered by solid fuel.” The official further mentioned the intent to produce these missiles for use in attacks on targets in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and even against Israel.
Hypersonic weapons, flying at speeds exceeding Mach 5, present considerable challenges to missile defense systems due to their high speed and maneuverability. The unpredictability of their flight path makes interception by systems like the U.S.-made Patriot more difficult.
While China and the U.S. are believed to be developing hypersonic weapons, Russia claims to have already deployed them in Ukraine. However, the effectiveness of these weapons is not guaranteed, as demonstrated when Ukraine’s air force downed a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile with a Patriot battery.
Amidst the conflict, the Houthis have repeatedly hinted at their weapons advancements, with their leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi recently warning of unforeseen developments. Since seizing Yemen’s capital in 2014, the Houthis have obtained newer missiles despite the absence of indigenous missile manufacturing infrastructure in Yemen.
Although Iran denies arming the Houthis, the U.S. and its allies have intercepted arms shipments bound for the rebels. Nevertheless, experts have linked seized Houthi weaponry to Iran, which also claims to possess hypersonic weapons.
The revelation of the Houthis’ hypersonic missile adds a new dimension to the conflict, potentially increasing pressure on Israel amidst ongoing tensions in the region.
