Houthis may have tested hypersonic missile

Houthi forces in Yemen may have acquired and tested hypersonic missiles, increasing security challenges in the Red Sea.

Russia's Sputnik and RIA Novosti news agencies on March 14 quoted sources familiar with the Houthi military and operations as saying that the armed forces had successfully tested a missile "that can reach Mach 8 (about 10,000 km/h) and use solid fuel."

Sputnik said the Houthis planned to produce this weapon "to strike the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as well as targets in Israel."

They have also improved missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), adjusting warheads to double their destructive power. The upgrade testing process has lasted three months.

New Houthi fighters attend a ceremony marking the end of their training in Sanaa, Yemen, on January 11. Photo: Reuters

The Houthis have repeatedly hinted in recent weeks that they are "saving a surprise" in their conflict with the US and its allies in the Middle East waters. Abdul al-Houthi, the leader of the force controlling northern Yemen, announced last week that they are seeking to develop hypersonic weapons, claiming that the Houthis have the ability to develop weapons that "will surprise the US and the UK".

Fabian Hinz, a missile expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Britain, said the Houthis could have access to hypersonic weapons technology via Iran. However, he doubted the forces in Yemen would be able to accurately control the weapons at such high speeds.

Iran has claimed to have mastered hypersonic missile technology. In June 2023, the country announced the successful test of the Fattah hypersonic missile and is developing another missile with similar capabilities.

Houthi attacks on cargo ships have affected shipping operations through the Red Sea, forcing the US and many European countries to form a task force to deal with them. The US and UK have repeatedly launched airstrikes on Houthi radar stations, missiles, UAVs and suicide boats, but have not been able to stop the group from continuing its attacks.

Many shipping lines have had to reroute their cargo ships away from the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Many have opted for the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa, increasing costs and shipping times.

Thanh Danh (According to Sputnik, AP, Times of Israel )

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