Houthis claim to have fired a ‘hypersonic missile’, while Israel says it intercepted a projectile

December 2, 2024 TruthUSA

The Iranian-backed Houthis group attacked a U.S. destroyer and three supply ships simultaneously in the Gulf of Aden.

The Israeli military reported that its air defense system intercepted a projectile before it reached Israeli territory on Sunday. The Yemen-based Houthi terrorist group claimed to have launched a “hypersonic missile” against a vital target in central Israel.

Sirens sounded across several locations in central Israel early Sunday when a missile was launched from Yemen, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Israel did not specify if there were any injuries resulting from the attack.

The Iran-backed Houthis later claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they fired the missile towards the Jaffa area of central Israel in solidarity with Iran-backed Hamas’s efforts for a Palestinian state in war-torn Gaza.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the attack was carried out using a “Palestine 2” type missile and that it “successfully achieved its objective,” without giving further details.

Analysts have questioned the Houthi claims of possessing hypersonic missile capabilities due to a lack of credible evidence and advanced technology needed for Mach 5-capable weapons. The IDF made a similar assessment based on the trajectory and flight path of Houthi missiles thus far.

In a separate statement, Saree mentioned that the Houthis had attacked a U.S. destroyer and three U.S. supply ships in the Gulf of Aden with 16 ballistic and winged missiles, as well as a drone.

The Houthi spokesman described the strikes on vessels linked to the U.S. military in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden as “accurate and direct.”

The U.S. military confirmed that “three U.S. owned, operated, [and] flagged merchant vessels” were targeted in Houthi attacks while traveling through the Gulf of Aden between Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

Reports indicated that the attacks did not hit their intended targets, resulting in no injuries or damage to the vessels, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which supervises U.S. forces in the Middle East.

CENTCOM stated that the Navy destroyers USS Stockdale and USS O’Kane responded to the strikes and “defeated” three Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles, three drones, and a cruise missile.

“These actions demonstrate the ongoing commitment of CENTCOM forces to safeguard U.S. personnel, regional partners, and international shipping against attacks by Iran-backed Houthis,” it said in a statement.

The Yemeni-based Houthi terror group has pledged to continue its attacks against Israel and U.S. ships at “an escalating pace” until the import restrictions on Gaza are lifted.

Saree stated that the group will increase its military operations against Israel with missiles and drones in response to the ongoing Israeli conflict with Hamas.

The Houthis have targeted several commercial ships since the IDF initiated its ground offensive against Hamas terrorists in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Houthi terrorists have captured one vessel and sunk two others in a campaign resulting in four casualties so far.

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