Houthi hypersonic missile shattered pride: Israel's Arrow and US's THAAD systems failed, chaos at Ben Gurion Airport

Tel Aviv/Sana: Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels exposed the failure of the US and Israel's state-of-the-art missile defense system—Arrow and THAAD—by firing a hypersonic missile near Israel's Ben Gurion airport. The attack on May 4, 2025, in which both systems failed to stop the missile, further escalated tensions in the Middle East. The Israeli military admitted that the missile defense system failed, after which 2 million people were forced to hide in bunkers. Let's analyze this sensational incident based on facts and latest developments.

Houthi missile attack: Panic at Ben Gurion

On the morning of May 4, 2025, the Houthis fired a hypersonic ballistic missile near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, 2,040 kilometers from Yemen. The missile, which Houthi spokesman Yahya Sari dubbed "Palestine 2", reached its target in 11.5 minutes. According to Israeli news outlet Ynet, the missile was stopped by neither Israel's Arrow-2/3 system nor the US's THAAD system. The missile debris fell near the airport, causing panic.

• Losses: There were no casualties, but flights at the airport were temporarily suspended. Sirens sounded in Tel Aviv as millions of people fled to bunkers.
• Houthi claim: "Our attack is a response to Israel's massacre in Gaza. Our missiles are challenging Israel and the US's Brahmastra," Sari said.

Arrow and THAAD failure: What went wrong?

Israel's Arrow missile defense system and the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system are designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles. The second battery of THAAD arrived in Israel in April 2025, deployed in response to the threat from Iran and its backed groups.

• Arrow system: This system is designed to destroy medium and long-range missiles outside the atmosphere. However, the speed (more than Mach 5) and unexpected trajectory of the Houthi's hypersonic missile evaded it.
• THAAD system: THAAD intercepts short and medium-range missiles in their final stages. "The missile's speed and altitude confused THAAD's radar," an Israeli military official said.
• Israel's allegation: The Israeli Air Force indirectly blamed the US, saying the THAAD system could not perform as expected.

Houthis' strength: Fear of hypersonic missiles

The Houthis launched more than 400 missile and drone attacks on Israel in 2024-25, most of which were thwarted by Arrow and Iron Dome. However, the use of hypersonic missiles in recent attacks, which are based on technology obtained from Iran, changed the game.

• March 19, 2025: The Houthis and Hamas together fired two hypersonic missiles, which were destroyed by the Arrow system. But the May 4 attack highlights the limitations of this system.
• Threat in the Red Sea: The Houthis attacked Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea, affecting global trade by 15%.

US and Israeli retaliation

After the attack, Israel carried out airstrikes on Yemen's Hudaydah port, killing 7 people. The US also stepped up drone attacks on Houthi bases in Sanaa, killing 68 people on April 28. The US Central Command said, "Houthi attacks are not possible without the support of Iran. We will destroy their missile program."

President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, "Houthis will have to bear the rain of destruction." However, the Houthis responded with a drone attack on the US warship USS Harry S Truman. 

Experts' analysis

Defense expert Professor Amit Gupta said, "The speed and trajectory of hypersonic missiles are a challenge for the existing defense system. Israel and America will have to change their strategy." Some experts believe that Iran's technology has given the Houthis unexpected power, which could affect the regional balance.

Conclusion

The Houthis' hypersonic missile exposed the weaknesses of Israel and America's Arrow and Thaad systems. The attack on Ben Gurion Airport not only shook Israel's security system, but also increased tensions in the Middle East. Will the US and Israel respond to this challenge with new technology and strategy, or will the Houthis' audacity increase further? Time and military strategy will decide this.