Yemen's possession of hypersonic missiles set to shift regional deterrence dynamics: Report


https://www.saba.ye/en/news3388525.htm

Yemen News Agency SABA
Yemen's possession of hypersonic missiles set to shift regional deterrence dynamics: Report
[26/ October/2024]
Sana'a - Saba:

The Yemeni armed forces have developed a range of capabilities and deterrent systems, manufactured locally as part of an ongoing enhancement of their missile force.

This advancement is attributed to the commitment of the revolutionary leadership and the Supreme Political Council, as well as the outcomes of the September 21 revolution, which liberated Yemen from foreign influence.

With an arsenal of advanced missiles, including hypersonic variants, Yemen is positioning itself as a significant regional power, becoming the first Arab nation to produce such strategic weaponry. Hypersonic missiles are among the most critical deterrent systems in contemporary international relations, having altered the balance of power for major nations. Countries like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have successfully developed high-precision missile technologies, advancing their capabilities in cruise and hypersonic systems.

Yemen's hypersonic missile boasts impressive features, including a range of up to 2,150 kilometers, solid-fuel propulsion in two stages, stealth technology, and speeds reaching up to Mach 16. This capability allows it to bypass advanced air defense systems, such as the "Iron Dome," and enhances its effectiveness against aerial threats.

The emergence of Yemeni missile capabilities has raised alarms in Washington, London, and Israel, as Yemen's entry into the global missile arms race could disrupt the existing power dynamics in the region—especially amidst the ongoing Zionist aggression, supported by the U.S. and U.K., against Palestine and Lebanon.

For decades, the U.S. and U.K. have provided Israel with a variety of weapons to maintain its hegemony in the region, with the genocidal war in Palestine and Lebanon, as well as aggressions against Yemen, Syria, and Iraq, serving as manifestations of Western conspiracies against the region. The recent reports of Yemen acquiring hypersonic missiles caught U.S. officials off guard. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh stated, "We have no indication that the Houthis have hypersonic missiles," while remaining noncommittal. The New York Times also noted that U.S. officials acknowledged a new medium-range missile test by the Houthis, leaving the specifics ambiguous.

In response to skepticism from Washington regarding Yemen's missile capabilities, Yemeni forces successfully targeted a military site in Jaffa, occupied Palestine, last September, using a hypersonic missile that traveled approximately 2,040 kilometers in just over 11 minutes. Following this event, a senior military official admitted to CNN, "The Houthis continue to surprise us, and we have no idea what weapons they have."

Israeli media acknowledged the failure of its air defense systems to intercept the missile, which evaded a multi-layered defense network that included Arrow, Iron Dome, David's Sling, and various jamming devices, ultimately striking near Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.

Military analysts assert that Yemen's acquisition of hypersonic missiles represents a significant strategic advantage for the Yemeni people, simultaneously delivering a severe blow to U.S., U.K., and Israeli interests in the region. This development transforms Yemen into a formidable player on the regional stage.

The advancement of Yemen's missile capabilities aligns with the statements of Sayyed Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, the leader of the revolution, who emphasizes the need to bolster Yemen's military prowess.

Al-Houthi has signaled that further developments in military capabilities are forthcoming, stating, "The future is greater, and there are great tidings that we leave room for action and then comment on with words, and the enemy, friend, and our dear people will see the level of achievements of strategic importance."

Yemen's possession of hypersonic missiles serves not only as a military milestone for the national forces in Sana'a but also as a warning to global powers and their local allies.

It signifies Yemen's capability to launch significant strikes against enemies and indicates that those responsible for attacks on vessels linked to Israel in strategic waters can also target U.S. military bases.

This potential could fundamentally reshape the region's geopolitical landscape, altering the rules of deterrence in favor of the axis of resistance.