A cruise missile launched by the Houthi rebels from the Red Sea landed in the southernmost Israeli city of Eilat, marking the first time a projectile fired by the Iran-backed group has struck Israeli territory.

According to the Times of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on March 19 that it had tracked a “suspicious target” – later confirmed to be a cruise missile. No damage or injuries were reported.

The militant group – formally the Ansar Allah (Supporters of God) movement – has repeatedly launched drones and international commercial shipping in the Red Sea region since November. It claims that the offensives were in solidarity with Palestinians against Israel’s military assault in Gaza, which began after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

“Previously, missiles and drones fired from Yemen had [either] hit neighboring countries or were intercepted by air defenses,” Newsweek mentioned. “The Houthis [also] claimed it targets vessels with connections to Israel. But it has frequently hit vessels with no clear links to the country, disrupting global shipping.”

In one instance, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group targeted the Marshall Islands-flagged liquefied petroleum gas tanker MADO in the Red Sea with naval missiles. While the rebels described the tanker as American, the Equasis shipping database states it was owned by the Greek company Naftomar.

In response, the U.S. Navy and British Royal Navy have led international strikes against Houthi targets. The U.S. military said it had destroyed seven missiles and three drones on March 18 in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen that threatened both merchant ships and American vessels. “These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels,” the U.S. Central Command said in a statement.

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The Houthis control most of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and the main Red Sea port of Hodeidah. They have been locked in a civil war with Yemen’s internationally recognized government backed by the West and Saudi Arabia since 2014.

Jamal Benomar, former United Nations special envoy for Yemen, previously told Newsweek that the U.S. strikes against the Houthis in the Red Sea “is another miscalculation.” He added that only a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip can put an end to the Houthis’ maritime attacks.

Next up: Hypersonic missiles

The cruise missile that landed in Israel’s southernmost city is just one weapon in the Houthis’ arsenal. According to a ZeroHedge report, the group has also recently tested a hypersonic missile that Tehran, its biggest backer, provided.

The Houthis reportedly boasted a successful hypersonic missile test on March 14, touting that it could eventually be used against Israel. Missiles with the hypersonic moniker can travel at a speed of Mach 5 (about 3,700 to 3,800 miles per hour).

According to a Houthi spokesman, the missile it tested can travel at eight times the speed of sound. “Missile forces of the movement have successfully tested a missile that can reach speeds of up to Mach 8 (6,200 mph) and is powered by solid fuel,” he said. “Yemen plans to begin manufacturing it for use in attacks in the Red and Arabian seas and the Gulf of Aden, as well as against targets in Israel.” (Related: Reports claim Houthi rebels have successfully tested HYPERSONIC MISSILES.)

If the claim that Houthis do have hypersonic missiles is proven true, Tehran was likely the provider of such armaments. In 2023, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps widely believed to be on the ground in Yemen as of writing unveiled its hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile dubbed the Fattah II. The U.S. Department of Defense meanwhile rejected claims of the Houthis having hypersonic missiles, calling them “inaccurate.”

Watch this video about the Houthis going on a rampage after testing their hypersonic missile.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Houthi missile hits U.S.-owned cargo ship, says U.S. government.

Houthis step up offensive operations with new drone attacks on U.S.-owned commercial ships.

Red Sea Houthi attacks will disrupt global supply chains more than any pandemic, sending prices skyrocketing.

U.S. Navy warship shoots down missiles and drones fired by Iran-backed militants in Yemen – possibly toward Israel.

Sources include:

Newsweek.com

ZeroHedge.com

Brighteon.com