Are the Houthis Launching New Missiles at Israel?

New Missile Technology and Cluster Munitions Used in Houthi Attack on Israel

Recent developments suggest that a Houthi ballistic missile launched against Israel on Friday contained cluster munitions. This marks the first known instance of the Iranian-backed Houthis using this type of weapon against Israel. The use of cluster munitions is significant, as it raises concerns about potential violations of international humanitarian law.

Iran has long used the Houthis as a testing ground for new missile and drone technology. This latest attack could indicate either direct Iranian involvement or local development by the Houthis based on similar Iranian missiles that incorporate cluster munitions. The Houthis have been increasingly experimenting with advanced weaponry, aiming to challenge regional adversaries.

In a statement broadcast by their military spokesperson, Brig.-Gen. Yahya Saree, the Houthis announced a “qualitative military operation targeting Lod Airport in the occupied Jaffa area with a hypersonic ballistic missile of the Palestine-2 type.” He claimed the missile “successfully hit its target after penetrating the Israeli defense systems.”

Israeli authorities suspect the Houthis used a fragmentation missile previously employed by Iran during the 12-day war. This was later confirmed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). In response, Israel carried out retaliatory raids, one of which was part of more than half a dozen long-range attacks against the Houthis over the past year.

Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the Houthis have launched several dozen ballistic missiles at Israel. Reports of possible cluster munitions in the recent missile attack have been circulating for two days.

Al-Masirah, a Houthi-owned outlet based in Beirut, reported that Israel conducted airstrikes against an oil company station on al-Satin Street in Sanaa, as well as attacks on the Haziz power station in the south of the city. Saudi al-Hadath also reported that Israel attacked the capital’s secretariat building in Tahrir Square.

The Houthis claim their attacks will not deter them from continuing their operations against Israel. A member of the Houthi Political Bureau, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, stated that “the Israeli aggression on Yemen will not deter us from continuing to support Gaza, no matter the sacrifices,” according to al-Akhbar media in Lebanon.

The Houthis assert that their Friday attack caused major confusion among Israeli forces, forcing millions of settlers into shelters and suspending airport operations. They also claimed to have targeted Ashkelon and Tel Aviv using drones.

Al-Masirah claimed that the increasing use of ballistic and hypersonic missiles, along with advanced drones, has shifted the balance of power in regional waters, creating serious concern within US and Israeli defense establishments. Analysts now describe the conflict as one of the most significant maritime confrontations since World War II, with implications far beyond the Red Sea.

Houthi Claims of Strategic Victory Over the US Navy

The Houthis also believe they have scored a “major strategic and symbolic victory” over the United States in the Red Sea. They have claimed to use new missile technology in the past, raising alarms among Israeli and US defense experts.

Last week, a report by al-Masirah noted that recent Yemeni strikes deep inside Israeli-occupied territories using hypersonic missiles have exposed vulnerabilities in multi-layered defense systems. The Houthis claim that hypersonic missile technology “marks a turning point, moving the threat from a theoretical concern to an operational reality.”

These missiles, traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 13 and executing advanced maneuvers, have reportedly outpaced interception systems such as Arrow 2, Arrow 3, David’s Sling, and US-made THAAD, SM-3, and SM-6. The Houthis believe that US and Israeli air defense systems “failed” to intercept these types of missiles during the 12-day war with Iran, which was called True Promise 3 by Iran.

Iran highlighted gaps in radar detection and interception capabilities, prompting Israeli officials to announce plans to accelerate the development of new systems, including Arrow-4 and advanced radar technologies in cooperation with US firms.

Despite the Houthis' claims, there is little evidence to support their assertions of piercing Israeli air defenses. However, the use of a cluster munition warhead would be important in verifying their capabilities.

Ynet reported that shortly after the launch, a senior Houthi official released a video purporting to show the missile breaking apart in midair. He claimed the footage demonstrated the weapon “splitting into several missiles over Israeli skies.” In a follow-up post, he stated the clips “clearly show the missile reaching its target, disproving enemy claims of interception.”

Iran's Use of Cluster Munitions in the Israel-Iran Conflict

In June, Reuters noted that Iran launched a missile at Israel that scattered small bombs with the aim of increasing civilian casualties. This marked the first reported use of cluster munitions in the seven-day-old war. Iran is believed to have used at least three missiles with cluster munitions out of the 500 it launched in the 12-day war. Human Rights Watch said Iran’s usage of these types of missiles is a violation of humanitarian law.

For nearly a decade, Iran has used Yemen as a live-fire laboratory, honing its drone and missile capabilities via its Houthi allies. What began as ideological support for the Houthi insurgency evolved into a full-scale weapons testing program—resulting in real-world consequences for regional stability.

Iran’s involvement in Yemen is not just about empowering proxies; it’s about refining weapons platforms under battlefield conditions. From the Qasef-series drones to the long-range Shahed 136 UAVs that first appeared in Yemen in 2020 and precision-guided cruise missiles, many of these systems were first seen in the hands of the Houthis before appearing elsewhere. Iran exported Shahed 136s to Ukraine after sending them to Yemen.

Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen offers Iran a launching pad. Here, weapons have been tested against targets such as cargo ships in the Red Sea, radar systems in Saudi Arabia, or US Navy vessels. Each strike likely helps refine Houthi guidance systems, adjust payloads, and stress-test command-and-control links. The information is then sent back to Iran. This test-bed strategy has ripple effects, allowing Iran to field test its arsenal without direct confrontation, while the Houthis gain new weapons.