ON Sunday, Yemen’s AnsarAllah, commonly known as the Houthis, launched what they said was a hypersonic missile at central Israel.
It caused fires, triggered air raid sirens, and sent residents running for shelter in the area around Ben Gurion Airport.
The Houthis said Israeli defence systems could not take down their missile.
An Israeli official said nine people suffered minor injuries.
The Houthis have been attacking ships they see as linked to Israel – in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait – since November, in proclaimed solidarity with Palestinians and against Israel’s continuing war on Gaza.
The Houthis claimed they launched a hypersonic ballistic missile that flew 2,000km (1,240 miles) from Yemen to central Israel in 11 minutes.
Israel said the missile was not hypersonic, adding that it “did not manoeuvre in flight”, according to The Times of Israel.
“Unless Russia or North Korea passed this technology to the Houthis … it’s more likely that the missile in question is supersonic,” Mohammed Al-Basha, senior Middle East analyst for the Navanti Group, told Al Jazeera.
“Supersonic missiles rely on conventional rocket motors and control systems, whereas hypersonic missiles demand advanced materials capable of withstanding extreme thermal, mechanical and acoustic stress at high speeds.
“Verification would depend on confirmation [of] tracking the missile. If it exceeded Mach 5, that would indicate the Houthis have acquired hypersonic technology,” Al-Basha said.
He added: “The design of the [Houthis’] Palestine missile series closely mirrors Iran’s medium-range ballistic missiles. It could be a hybrid, with front fins and the warhead resembling the Fateh-110, while the rear fins are similar to the Kheibar Shekan.
“The Houthis have added distinct markings, including a black-and-white chequered keffiyeh pattern, and the flag and map of Palestine.”
