In a major escalation of the Middle East conflict, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for launching a hypersonic ballistic missile that struck Israel early Sunday morning. The missile reportedly hit a military target in Tel Aviv, marking the first time the Houthis successfully deployed such a weapon against Israel.
The missile, which flew over 2,000 kilometers before hitting its target, evaded Israel's sophisticated defense systems, including the Iron Dome and Arrow anti-missile systems. Hypersonic missiles, which travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, are notoriously difficult to intercept due to their high velocity and ability to change trajectory mid-flight. Despite attempts by Israeli and U.S. naval forces to intercept the missile, it successfully reached Israeli airspace, with fragments later discovered in the central Israeli town of Modiin.
#BREAKING : The Houthis announced an attack on Tel Aviv with a new hypersonic missile. The missile traveled more than 2,000 km from Yemen to Tel Aviv in 11 minutes, passing close to two American destroyers and a French frigate, without being detected.#Houthis #TelAviv… pic.twitter.com/MjG9loTyf1
— upuknews (@upuknews1) September 15, 2024
This attack comes as tensions continue to escalate between Israel and Iranian-backed forces throughout the region. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that air-raid sirens were triggered across central Israel following the missile's launch. However, the IDF reported no casualties, as the missile struck an open area, fragmenting mid-air. Despite the lack of immediate damage, this incident underscores the growing capabilities of the Houthis, who have long been viewed as a proxy force for Iran.
The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, have been involved in a protracted conflict with Saudi Arabia and its allies since 2015. Their growing military arsenal, reportedly supplied in part by Iran, has allowed them to extend their reach beyond the Arabian Peninsula. Just last year, the Houthis claimed to have tested their first hypersonic missile, a development widely believed to be influenced by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, which unveiled its own hypersonic missile, the Fattah II, in 2023.
Videos of a ballistic missile launched from #Yemen, that fell a few kilometers from Ben Gurion Airport in #TelAviv, in the Ben Shemen forest area.
The possible target could have been the Geyzer power station located 6 km from the airport, or the airport itself.#Israel #Houthis pic.twitter.com/L297hbURyF
— Capt (IN) Vikram Mahajan (Veteran) (@vikrammahajan) September 16, 2024
In a statement following the attack, a Houthi spokesperson warned of further strikes against Israeli military and civilian targets. This announcement coincides with the upcoming anniversary of Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, a date the Houthis have previously used to justify their military actions. The Houthis have launched hundreds of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones towards Israel in recent months as part of their "support for Gaza".
The international community, including the United States, has condemned the attack. U.S. naval forces stationed in the Red Sea were unable to intercept the missile, raising concerns about the limitations of conventional missile defense systems against emerging hypersonic threats. The failure to stop the missile despite multiple interception attempts has prompted Israeli and U.S. military officials to reevaluate their defense strategies in the region.
Meanwhile, Israel has bolstered its naval presence in the Red Sea, deploying warships and anti-missile systems to prevent further strikes. The Houthis have previously launched missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets, including an attempt to hit the strategic Red Sea port of Eilat earlier this year. These attacks are part of a broader effort by Iranian proxies to destabilize the region, as Iran continues to support groups like Hezbollah and Hamas in their confrontations with Israel.
The introduction of hypersonic missiles into the conflict marks a significant escalation, with the potential to further destabilize an already volatile region. As Israel braces for more attacks, questions remain about how it and its allies will adapt to the growing missile threat from Yemen and other Iran-aligned groups.
I truly feel we should provide more help for Israel and not as much to Eucrane. Israel is an ally and Eucrane Isn’t. Though I’m not what one would call pro-Israel, that country was attacked and has a right to defend itself.