Israeli Media: Yemen May Use Cluster Ballistic Missile
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and yemen’s al Masirah network, Israeli media-including the Walla news site-reported that sources within the Israeli Air Force suspect Yemeni forces used a ballistic missile armed with a cluster warhead for the first time in their recent attack. This type of missile can split into three submunitions before impact.
The report adds that after analyzing and reconstructing the missile’s trajectory, it is indeed believed this new cluster ballistic missile was deployed for the first time by Yemeni forces. This makes interception and neutralization considerably more difficult.
Israeli sources estimate that this missile carried at least 10 small explosive subwarheads.
The examination into how Israel intercepted or defended against this attack is still ongoing.
Walla noted that if final analysis confirms it was indeed a cluster warhead missile, israel will be forced to reconsider its current missile defense policies.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation reported that the missile launched from yemen late Friday night unusually broke apart mid-air.
Security officials in Israel acknowledge that Yemeni forces possess indigenous capabilities to develop and manufacture such missiles.
