 "Gaza war: Yemen's Houthi rebels claim they fired hypersonic missiles targeting Israeli capital Tel Aviv")
Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they launched a hypersonic missile targeting central Israel on Sunday (December 1).
The Iran-backed rebels, claiming responsibility for the attack, said they used a “Palestine 2” missile, described as a hypersonic ballistic missile manufactured in Yemen, to target a “vital location” in the Israeli capital city of Tel Aviv.
How dangerous are hypersonic missiles?
Hypersonic missiles, which travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5— five times the speed of sound— offer significant advantages over conventional ballistic missiles.
These missiles are highly manoeuverable, making them difficult to track and intercept using traditional missile defence systems. Their speed also reduces response time for targeted regions, adding to the destructive and deterrence value of the missiles.
More about Houthi-Israel conflict
The Houthis, part of Iran’s “axis of resistance” against Israel and the United States, have periodically launched drones and missiles at Israel since the Gaza conflict erupted in October.
Sunday’s incident marks the latest in a series of long-range missile attacks attributed to the group.
The Houthis have increasingly aligned themselves with regional actors opposing Israel, with the group escalating its rhetoric and actions amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
The latest missile launch shows that apart from the geographically widening scope of the conflict, the war is also increasingly becoming open towards use of much deadlier, new-age weapons.
What Israel said
An Israeli military statement confirmed the interception, stating, “One projectile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force prior to its crossing into Israeli territory.” The interception followed early-morning sirens that sounded in several areas of central Israel.
The fact that the missile was intercepted raises doubts about whether it was in fact hypersonic.
Israel has not reported any casualties or damage from the intercepted projectile, and officials are investigating the nature of the missile.
With inputs from agencies
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