Business Insider reported that the Houthis painted the word "hypersonic" in English on a missile launched at Israel on September 15. However, the Israeli military poured cold water on the Houthis' claim that this was a hypersonic weapon.
On September 16, the Houthis released a video that they said showed a new missile being launched at Israel on September 15. The Houthis claimed that the Palestine 2 missile is supersonic, has stealth technology, and is highly maneuverable, surpassing advanced air defense systems.
The video shows the Houthis even writing “supersonic” in red on the side of the missile.
The Houthis also claimed responsibility for an attack on a “vital” military site in Israel using a “new hypersonic ballistic missile” – which flew 1,900km in about 11 minutes and 30 seconds. That suggests the Houthi missile reached hypersonic speeds, at least five times the speed of sound.
Such speeds are not uncommon for ballistic missiles, but hypersonic weapons are really about more than just speed.
According to Israeli media, the Israeli Air Force determined that the missile was not hypersonic as the Houthis claimed. The missile flew on a fixed trajectory and did not maneuver during flight, meaning it lacked the key characteristics of a hypersonic weapon.
Iran - which has long supplied weapons to the Houthis - has unveiled what it says are hypersonic ballistic missiles, but Tehran denies supplying the Houthis with such weapons.
A Pentagon spokesman said the US confirmed that the Houthis had fired a ballistic missile.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a surface-to-surface missile was launched from Yemen into Israel early on the morning of September 15. Initial investigation shows that the missile likely broke up mid-flight.
"The Arrow and Iron Dome air defense systems intercepted the missile and the results are being analyzed," the IDF said in a statement on Telegram.
The Arrow and Iron Dome are designed to defend against short- and long-range attacks. The IDF said fragments of the interceptor missiles fell in open areas and at a train station.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said the Houthis would pay a heavy price.
The Houthis have carried out several attacks on Israel since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a massive offensive that escalated fighting in Gaza.
The Houthis also fired missiles and drones at commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
