Second Hit Of Intercontinental Cluster- Nosed Ballistic Missile Attack On Israel By Houthis

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              

      Houthis cluster-nosed warheaded ballistic intercontinental missile  Attack on Israel

Yesterday the 24th, Israeli fighters struck Sa'ana, Yemen in response to a Houthi ballistic missile attack over the weekend. The Houthi missile had a cluster warhead, which can potential cause much greater damage than an ordinary one. 

From central Yemen to central Israel, the distance is approximately 1,240–1,280 miles (2,000–2,060 km). 

1.  First Time??? In September 2024, Houthi rebels claimed to have hit central Israel with a new ballistic missile, which they said took about 11 minutes to travel that distance. Yes, a Houthi ballistic missile originating from Yemen hit central Israel, near Ben Gurion Airport, on September 15, 2024, after fragmentation during an attempted interception by Israel's defense system. The missile strike, the deepest into Israel by the Houthis, caused minor injuries and fires but did not lead to casualties. The Houthi group claimed the attack used a new type of hypersonic missile, and the incident led to a strong response from Israel, including airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. 

Compare that with a car going 70 miles perhour;  how far couldthey go?  12.83 miles.  Round it out to 13 miles.  That inter-continental ballistic rocket is FAST!!!!!  

Based on recent events in the Middle East and reports from the war in Ukraine, a ballistic missile attack with a cluster warhead is a non-discriminating and highly destructive attack using submunitions delivered over a wide area. This type of weapon is a major concern for civilian casualties, unexploded ordnance, and the difficulty of interception by missile defense systems. 

It may also be against international law to use this in a war.  Clusters of weapons will hit civilians;  anywhere the arms land.  

Fact:  No, the use of cluster bombs does not violate international law in itself, but rather depends on the context of their use, as their widespread and indiscriminate nature poses a significant threat to civilians. While the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions bans their use for signatory states, many countries, including major powers, have not ratified it. The use of cluster bombs against civilians or in areas with a high risk of civilian harm would constitute a violation of international humanitarian law.

 It is not against the law to use them against an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) unless such use would result in significant civilian casualties.  MY, my, my oh my.  Cluster bombs can be used against these missiles !!!

Yemen's population in mid-2025 is estimated to be approximately 41.8 million people, according to UN World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) data cited by sources like Worldometer and Statista. This figure reflects an annual growth rate of about 2.9%. 

• Mid-2025 Estimate: Around 41.8 million.  Houthis come from Yemen.  
• Israel's population is estimated to be around 10.1 million as of 2025, crossing the 10 million mark in early 2025. Jews make up about 75%.  Muslims and others aboute 25%. It is the world's only Jewish country.   While different sources offer slightly varied mid-year estimates for 2025, including 9.517 million by Worldometer, the general consensus points to the population surpassing 10 million.  The ratio between Yemen and Israel is about 5:1.  
• 2nd Time:  Houthi attack on Israel (August 24, 2025): An investigation by the Israel Air Force concluded that a ballistic missile launched by the Iranian-backed Houthis from Yemen carried a cluster warhead. This was the first time the group was confirmed to have used this type of weapon against Israel. 

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• One of the submunitions landed in the central Israeli town of Ginaton, causing minor damage. Ginaton is a moshav in central Israel. Located near Ben Shemen, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hevel Modi'in Regional Council. In 2022 it had a population of 867.The council covers a kibbutz, 19 moshavim, three community settlements and a youth village.  This moshav has about 867 people;  highly populated. Just how many were injured?                                    
  
  A moshav hit by a cluster intercontinental missile 
•  A moshav is a cooperative agricultural village in Israel, characterized by individual family farms that are self-sufficient but share certain resources and responsibilities. Pioneered by Labour Zionists during the Second Aliyah, moshavim provide a middle ground between the individualistic farming of a moshava and the collective living of a kibbutz. There are different types, such as the moshav ovdim (workers' settlement) and the moshav shitufi (cooperative settlement), with the latter involving more collective production.
• In response, Israel launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Houthi rebels say at least 4 people were killed and 67 wounded in the Israeli raid. The targets included a military compound that houses the presidential palace, two power plants, and a fuel storage site. 

Where did these super-duper missiles come from?  Why, Iran, of course, and where did they buy them from?  Probably China.  While there is no public evidence that China is selling fully assembled intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to Iran, multiple intelligence and media reports indicate that China is supplying Iran with key materials and technology for its domestic ballistic missile production. This is raising international concerns as Iran attempts to rebuild its missile capabilities. World, pay attention!  

Resource:

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