SAANA (Agencies): The Houthi movement in Yemen has intensified its campaign against Israel, reportedly downing another U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone and firing a hypersonic missile. The escalation, which began in October 2023 in solidarity with Gaza, includes a series of drone and missile strikes and a partial blockade of the Red and Arabian Seas.
According to sources, the drone was shot down over Yemen’s al-Jawf province, with footage surfacing online showing the wreckage falling and igniting a fire on the ground. U.S. military officials confirmed awareness of the footage and stated they are investigating the incident.
The Houthis have reportedly bolstered their air defense capabilities, with access to a range of upgraded Soviet-era systems, including Kub, Dvina, Neva/Pechora, and Strela-1 SAMs, as well as derivatives of Iranian designs.
The missile’s intended target remains unclear, but it was likely aimed at strategic locations in Israel’s Negev region, where key Israeli airbases such as Nevatim and Hatzerim are situated. Nevatim hosts Israel’s advanced F-35I fleet, while Hatzerim houses F-15I aircraft. Additionally, the U.S. operates a high-security radar facility, Site 512, on Mount Har Qeren in the Negev.
The Houthis previously unveiled the “Palestine-2” missile in September, a two-stage, solid-fuel hypersonic weapon with a range of 2,150 km, stealth capabilities, and speeds reaching up to Mach 16. Despite U.S., British, and Israeli efforts to counter Houthi advancements, the militia has reportedly pierced Israel’s air defenses on multiple occasions, with the U.S. alone investing over $2.5 billion in operations against Houthi forces since January.