Report: Houthis successfully test hypersonic missile, plan to begin production

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have successfully tested a hypersonic rocket in Yemen, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reports, citing a military source.

According to the report, the Houthis are planning to begin manufacturing the missiles for use against targets in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as well as Israel.

The Yemen-based terror group has said that it would escalate attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Months of Houthi Red Sea attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to reroute to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa, and stoking fears that the Israel-Hamas war could spread to destabilize the wider Middle East.