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Multiple Iranian/Houthi Rockets and Drones Fired against Israel

Anti-missile defenses belonging to the U.S., Israel, and Saudi Arabia intercepted the weapons
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A Houthi missile is launched
“Death to America! Death to Israel! A curse upon the Jews! Victory for Islam!” reads the sign as a Houthi missile is launched. (Yemen Watch). The slogan of the Houthi movement (officially called Ansar Allah) says, “God is the greatest, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse upon the Jews, Victory to Islam” in Arabic text. It is portrayed in this photograph on a white flag, with the written text in red and green. (Tasnim, Iran)

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Amid the month-long Hamas barrage of more than 9,000 rockets against Israel and Hizbullah’s occasional anti-tank rockets, a new combatant appeared on the Middle East stage. On October 19, 2023, the USS Carney, a U.S. Navy destroyer, had just traversed the Suez Canal and entered the Red Sea when it detected and destroyed four northbound cruise missiles and 15 drones throughout a nine-hour engagement. Their trajectory suggested they were heading toward Israel, and the source of the attack was Houthi-held Yemen. The Carney fired SM-2 surface-to-air missiles in the clash; one Houthi missile is believed to have been intercepted by a Saudi Patriot missile. According to a U.S. Defense Department spokesman, the Houthi missiles have a 2,000 km range.1

Along with Hamas and Hizbullah, the Houthis are devout proxies of Iran and recipients of aid, weapons, and training from the Ayatollah regime.

The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Carney in the Suez Canal on October 18, 2023
The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Carney in the Suez Canal on October 18, 2023. (U.S. Navy)

Subsequently, on October 31, 2023, the Houthis launched a surface-to-surface ballistic missile toward Israel that was intercepted by an Israeli Arrow 2 missile, the system’s “baptism in fire” and first known military clash in space.  On November 9, another ballistic missile was shot down over the Red Sea by the new Arrow 3 missile. The Arrow system detects, tracks, and intercepts ballistic missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

On November 1, 2023, an Israeli Air Force F-35 shot down “a turbojet-powered cruise missile flying at high speed and low level.” The unmanned aircraft was identified as a Quds cruise missile.2

The Houthis have developed a broad spectrum of drones, rockets, and missiles, but in most cases, the weapons are knockoffs of Iranian models.

Houthi Burkan-2 (Volcano-2) rockets
Houthi Burkan-2 (Volcano-2) rockets in the forefront. (Tasnim, Iran) The rocket is modeled on the Iranian Qiam missile and warhead.

On September 21, 2023, the Houthis held a massive military parade in Saana to commemorate the anniversary of the Houthis revolution. Their latest missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other weaponry were displayed.3

Houthi military parade in Saana
The massive Houthi military parade in Saana, September 21, 2023. (MEMRI)

The authoritative Janes Weapons reported on the weaponry. The missilery and UAVs are of particular importance because of the appearance of these weapons soon thereafter in the attacks on Israel. Here is Janes’ analysis:

Three ballistic missiles labeled as the Falaq were displayed that looked similar to a version of Iran’s Qiam liquid-fuel ballistic missile that has fins on its re-entry vehicle. The ballistic missiles that Ansar Allah refers to as the Burkan-2H and Zulfiqar have earlier been identified as Qiams that have been modified to extend their range….4

A Falaq ballistic missile
A Falaq ballistic missile was displayed during the parade. (Ansar Allah, Yemen)

“What we have seen, clearly from the results of the ballistic missile attacks, that there have been Iranian markings on those missiles, that’s been demonstrated,” Lt. Gen. Jeffrey L. Harrigian, who commanded U.S. Air Forces Central Command, stated five years ago. “To me, that connects the dots to Iran in terms of who’s providing those missiles and that capability.”5

The weapons fired at Israel are known in the defense world. They’ve been fired in recent years at Saudi and Emirates targets, refineries, airports, ships, and cities. The Houthis have always claimed “credit,” thus protecting their Iranian bosses from retaliation.

Remnants of the Houthi Burkan-2
A Houthi Burkan-2 rocket broke through the roof and floors of a Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, house but failed to detonate. (Bawabatii)
Chart of Houthi rockets and missiles in Yemen
Payloads and ranges have generally increased since this chart was presented

Iranian Weapons Materiel on Display at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

In 2017, the then-Trump Administration displayed the Iran-Houthi weapons presentation at a military base in Washington. Parts of crashed or intercepted Houthi rockets and drones were shown.

Nikky Haley
Then-U.S. Ambassador to the United States Nikky Haley showed evidence of Iranian weapons and technology in Houthi hands. (PBS screenshot)
Remains of Iranian Qiam ballistic missile
Remains of Iranian Qiam ballistic missiles at the Iranian Materiel Display at the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington D.C., November 26, 2018. (Department of Defense)
Remains of a Qasef-I unmanned aerial vehicle
Remains of a Qasef-I unmanned aerial vehicle at the Iranian Materiel Display at the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. November 26, 2018. (Department of Defense)
A sign shows the Iranian state-owned and operated Shahid Bagheri Industries logo while on display at Joint Base Anacostia-Boling in Washington, D.C. Jan. 24, 2018. The sign accompanies a multi-national collection of evidence proving Iranian weapons proliferation in violation of United Nations resolutions 2216 and 2231. (EJ Hersom/DoD photo)
A map illustrating the Houthi missile targets in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
A map illustrating the Houthi missile targets in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. (ACLED, with permission)

The map presented by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) study, Beyond Riyadh: Houthi Cross-Border Aerial Warfare 2015-2022, does not include the recent Houthi missiles, drones, and rockets fired at Israel.8

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Notes

Lenny Ben-David

Lenny Ben-David worked for AIPAC for 25 years in Washington and Jerusalem. In 1997, he left to open an independent consulting firm, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tapped him to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff in Israel’s Washington Embassy. He is the author of the book <em>American Interests in the Holy Land Revealed in Early Photographs</em>, and he is completing his next book, <em>Secrets of World War I in the Holy Land Revealed in Early Photographs</em>. He is a Research and Diplomacy Fellow at the Jerusalem Center.
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