Yemen fires ‘Palestine 2’ missile: How Houthis dodged Israel’s Iron Dome and Arrow systems

Yemen’s Houthi group has claimed it fired a “Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile” at Israel, marking a sharp escalation in the widening Middle East conflict and raising fresh concerns over the effectiveness of advanced air defence systems.The Iran-backed group said a Palestine 2 missile carrying multiple warheads was launched towards the Tel Aviv area. The strike, it said, was in response to the “crimes of genocide and the dangerous escalation carried out by the Israeli enemy against our people in the Gaza Strip”, adding it would “continue to fulfil our religious, moral, and humanitarian duties until the aggression against Gaza stops”.Israel confirmed the launch, saying its air defence systems were activated.

“Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas of Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted,” the Israeli military said in a statement.The attack marks the Houthis’ direct entry into the broader regional conflict, with the group also saying it had carried out operations using a “batch of ballistic missiles” targeting “sensitive military targets” in Israel.The Palestine 2 missile is believed to be based on advanced Iranian designs and is described by the Houthis as a hypersonic weapon capable of travelling at speeds up to Mach 16.

Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, which follow a predictable arc, this system is assessed to use a hypersonic glide vehicle that can manoeuvre mid-flight and alter its trajectory.This manoeuvrability is central to how such missiles can challenge layered defence systems like Iron Dome, David's Sling and Arrow missile system. These systems are designed to track and intercept threats based on expected flight paths.

A missile that zigzags at high speed or follows a “skip trajectory” along the edge of the atmosphere complicates radar tracking and interception timing.The Palestine 2 is reported to travel along the upper atmosphere before releasing a glide vehicle that re-enters and manoeuvres unpredictably. This reduces reaction time for interceptors and may allow the missile to slip through gaps in radar coverage, particularly if it flies at lower or variable altitudes.Israel’s multi-layered defence relies on Arrow systems for long-range interception, David’s Sling for medium-range threats and Iron Dome for short-range rockets. However, systems like Iron Dome are not designed to counter hypersonic or highly manoeuvrable ballistic threats, while even higher-tier systems face challenges when targets deviate from predicted trajectories.The strike also underscores a broader shift in warfare, where non-state actors are deploying increasingly sophisticated missile technology previously associated with major military powers.The Houthis said the operation was coordinated with actions by Iran and Hezbollah, signalling deeper regional alignment. The escalation comes amid continued Israeli strikes on Yemen, including reported attacks involving 20 fighter jets targeting command centres and weapons depots.The group’s growing missile capability also raises concerns for global trade routes, particularly in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb strait, where Houthi attacks have already disrupted shipping. With tensions rising, the use of advanced missiles like Palestine 2 signals a new phase in the conflict, combining speed, manoeuvrability and strategic reach.