Yemen’s Houthi Militia Unveils New Solid-Fuel Missile
Yemen’s Houthi militia recently revealed a new solid-fuel missile in their arsenal, named the “Palestine” missile. The missile, which bears a warhead painted to resemble a Palestinian keffiyeh checkered scarf, was launched at the southern Gulf of Aqaba port of Eilat in Israel. While the attack triggered air raid sirens, fortunately, there were no reported damages or injuries.
Solid-fuel missiles, like the Palestine, offer advantages over liquid-fuel missiles as they can be set up and fired more quickly. This is particularly crucial for the Houthis as their missile launch sites have been targeted by US and allied forces due to the rebels’ attacks on shipping through the Red Sea corridor. Despite claiming that the Palestine is locally made, the Houthis lack the technological capabilities to manufacture such advanced missile systems in Yemen.
Iran’s Involvement
The Houthis have been consistently supplied with arms by Iran throughout the ongoing war in Yemen, despite a United Nations arms embargo. While Iran denies arming the Houthis, evidence from seized ships has revealed Iranian weaponry and missile components onboard. The design elements of the Palestine missile bear a striking resemblance to other missiles developed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, such as the Fattah missile.
Iran had previously unveiled the Fattah missile, boasting capabilities of reaching Mach 15 and a range of up to 1,400 kilometers. Although the distance from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen to Eilat falls slightly short of this range, the missile can be reconfigured to extend its reach. The launch of the Palestine missile has raised concerns about Iran’s involvement in arming the Houthi rebels with advanced weaponry.
Hypersonic Capabilities
The Palestine missile has been described as potentially hypersonic, flying at speeds exceeding Mach 5. Hypersonic weapons pose significant challenges to traditional missile defense systems due to their high speed and maneuverability. The unpredictability of a hypersonic missile’s flight path makes it difficult for anti-missile systems to intercept them effectively.
Countries like China and America are actively pursuing hypersonic weapons technology, with Russia claiming to have already deployed them. The exact speed and maneuverability of the Palestine missile remain unclear, raising questions about its capabilities in combat situations.
In conclusion, the unveiling of the Palestine missile by Yemen’s Houthi militia highlights the ongoing conflict in the region and raises concerns about Iran’s role in arming rebel groups. The development of hypersonic weapons adds a new dimension to modern warfare, posing challenges to existing missile defense systems. As tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, monitoring the proliferation of advanced weaponry remains crucial for regional stability and security.