Yemen’s Military Manufacturing: A Beacon of Hope for Restoring the Nation’s Dignity
In a historical context linking Yemen’s ongoing reality to its conflict with Israel, the September 26 Revolution of 1962, which aimed to build a strong national army, reflects significant shortcomings in achieving its declared goals. Over the fifty years since the revolution, it became evident that the military was often used for narrow political purposes—protecting certain family regimes and distributing wealth among those close to decision-makers.
In this context, military and political dimensions can be observed before and after September 21, 2014. While there were once hopes of establishing a national army that would secure stability for the nation, today, following the September 21 Revolution, Yemen’s military has finally achieved high capabilities, including advanced weapons like hypersonic missiles with Allah’s support.
In stark contrast, the previous regimes failed even at the most basic level—providing security and national sovereignty. The army of that era was incapable of addressing even minor challenges.
The difference between the two eras is clear, not requiring deep analysis but rather a sense of pride in Yemen’s current Arab and international standing. Yemen now boasts a strong military focused on safeguarding national sovereignty, maintaining independent political decisions, and possessing the unconditional ability to support critical causes for both the Arab and Islamic worlds. Foremost among these is the cause of al-Aqsa, the liberation of occupied Arab lands, and the establishment of a free Palestinian country in their rightful land, with al-Quds as its capital.
In a related development, the launch of the “Palestine 2” hypersonic missile by Yemeni forces toward the heart of Israel has garnered global attention. This act has sparked widespread debate about Yemen’s growing military capabilities and their ability to reshape the global power landscape.
Moreover, the successful reach of Yemen’s Palestine 2 missile into Israel’s depths has presented new security challenges for both Israeli and U.S. administrations, particularly concerning Israel’s internal stability.
From a military and technological perspective, Yemen’s army has demonstrated its ability to produce advanced weapons, including hypersonic missiles, which significantly heighten the strategic threat to Israel. Reports confirmed that Israel’s air defenses had failed to intercept the missile, underscoring a notable weakness in its defense systems. This reveals the vulnerability of Israel’s missile defense systems in confronting such advanced weaponry, highlighting the remarkable progress of Yemen’s military manufacturing.
The Aftermath of Possessing the “Palestine 2” Missile
Israel’s efforts to explain its failure to intercept the missile—arguing that its defense systems may not have been designed for such threats—underscore the glaring disconnect between claims of partial success and the reality of its deep-seated fears. This shortcoming further reflects a potential erosion of confidence in Israel’s military capabilities.
In terms of regional power dynamics, Israel’s concerns about Yemen’s increasing missile capabilities suggest a significant shift in the balance of power in the Middle East. This escalation could further complicate broader regional conflicts, with potential repercussions across various domains. The ongoing conflict risks intensifying internal tensions within Israel and increasing external pressure on its government.
All these developments underscore that Yemen’s advancements in military technology mark the beginning of a critical phase in its confrontation with Israel. The ability to produce advanced weapons signifies a turning point in the ongoing regional conflict, hinting at potential consequences for Israel’s military aggression in Gaza and southern Lebanon. This situation could force Israeli leaders to reconsider their security strategies, which may, in turn, deeply impact Israel’s political stability.
A Strategic Threat
Meanwhile, the Zionist newspaper “Makor Rishon” reported that Yemen now poses a “multi-dimensional strategic threat to Israel,” surpassing security, economic, and military levels, particularly with the launch of long-range missiles and drones.
The newspaper warned that Israel would do well not to ignore the Yemeni threat, especially in light of lessons learned from the failure on October 7 by the Israeli military in general and its air force in particular.
The publication also expressed surprise that nearly a year after the war, Israeli leadership has yet to grasp what every citizen in Israel understands: failure to respond invites more attacks, and the policy of containment ended on October 7, 2023.
The newspaper questioned why Israel had not yet retaliated against Yemen for launching a ground-to-ground missile that could have resulted in numerous casualties. This was echoed in a study conducted by the “Institute for Zionist National Security and Strategy”.
A New Era of Hypersonic Missiles
In related developments, experts and analysts from Western think tanks told “Business Insider” that the Houthis have become an increasing threat to Israel. They emphasized that the hypersonic missile strike was a significant milestone and warned it is likely to happen again.
“Business Insider” further noted that the Houthis successfully tested Israel’s defenses with a ballistic missile, confirming that for the first time, a Houthi ballistic missile had reached Israel from Yemen. Despite Israel’s activation of its air defenses, they failed to neutralize the missile.
Military and geopolitical analyst Sim Tak suggested that the recent ballistic missile strike could prompt Israel to reconsider its defensive measures against repeated threats. He predicted the potential for more substantial ballistic strikes on Israel if its missile interception efforts continue to fail.
The report also mentioned Israel’s denial of the Houthi claim that the missile was hypersonic, with Israeli forces vowing to investigate why their “Arrow” missile defense system failed to destroy the threat. Despite the denial, the Houthis had clearly marked the missile with the word “hypersonic” in English.
Ryan Bohl, a senior analyst for the Middle East and North Africa at RANE, emphasized the geographical significance of the missile launched from Yemen, noting that the Houthis represent an increasing threat to Israel and could rival Hezbollah in their ability to carry out major attacks. However, he noted that sustaining such a threat would require further bolstering of Houthi capabilities, a process he believes is still in its early stages.
Steven Horrell, a senior fellow at the Transatlantic Defense and Security Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis, told “Business Insider” that while Israel maintains a high level of confidence in its multi-layered missile defense system, the recent attack serves as a stark reminder that no defense is flawless—the risk can never be entirely eliminated.
The article also highlighted that while the U.S. Navy successfully intercepted numerous Houthi drones and missiles in the Red Sea, a CEPA analyst likened these actions to “shooting arrows without eliminating the archer.”
Israel’s Vulnerability Exposed
On the international front, China’s “Jingjing” television reported that Israel has been left exposed to the Yemeni forces following the hypersonic “Palestine 2” missile strike. The report pointed out that the U.S. military, like Israel’s, would also struggle to intercept these advanced missiles.
“Jingjing” emphasized that the Yemeni hypersonic missile strike on September 15 created a major crisis for “Israeli Prime Minister” Benjamin Netanyahu. The failure of Israel’s air defenses to intercept the missile revealed a significant vulnerability to this type of weaponry. The report further noted that if Netanyahu continues the fighting without seeking a ceasefire in Gaza, his internal and external challenges will only worsen.
The report recalled that just over ten days prior,” the ” Houthi” leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi declared his intention to use the latest ground-based technologies to strike enemies like the U.S. and Israel. At the time, there was speculation about what new technology the Houthis possessed— had they uncovered a new weapon in the desert?”.
The mystery was soon solved when the Houthis publicly unveiled their hypersonic missile technology. On September 15, Israel confirmed that a ground-to-ground missile launched from Yemen landed in an unpopulated area in central Israel. While there were no casualties, the attack triggered widespread fear, as Houthi missiles had never previously penetrated so deeply into Israeli territory.
The report concluded that Israel’s failure to intercept the missile left its strategic depth completely exposed and vulnerable to further Houthi strikes.
Israeli media offered multiple explanations for the failure, with military sources suggesting that the “Arrow-3” missile defense system may not have been suited to intercept this specific missile type. Although partial interception was claimed, the reports indicated that the missile fragmented mid-air and only debris landed in Israel, an outcome described as a “successful interception”.
However, Jingjing pointed to a more fundamental issue: the Houthis’ use of hypersonic missiles, which are challenging even for the U.S. military to intercept, let alone Israel’s.
Amid These Developments
Yemen’s military manufacturing represents a new hope for restoring Arab dignity. These technological advancements are not just technical feats but symbolize a step toward genuine support for the Palestinian cause. Strengthening Yemen’s defensive and offensive capabilities reflects a firm resolve to uphold Arab rights and contribute to a free Palestine, freeing al-Aqsa from the hands of the oppressors.
These developments have positioned Yemen as a rising force in the region, sending a clear message that Arab nations are capable of advancing and defending their rights. In light of these circumstances, Arab and Islamic cooperation needs to face the shared challenges and work toward a more stable and dignified future.