In a significant development signaling a new escalation in the regional arena, Israel revealed that the missile launched from Yemen last Friday carried a fissile warhead. This type of warhead is designed to cause multiple explosions and inflict extensive destruction within the targeted area.

Military experts told Al Jazeera that this missile operates with advanced technology allowing it to fragment through detonation before hitting the ground to disperse bombs and warheads over multiple targets, or through a subsequent explosion that turns the targeted land into a field of timed mines, complicating defense and clearance operations.

Experts also pointed out that the Houthi group’s possession of such weapons is closely linked to external support and armament, reflecting the transfer of this lethal technology to a conflict zone that had not witnessed such qualitative developments before, highlighting a significant shift in the tools of confrontation.

In response to this escalation, the Houthis announced on Sunday a new Israeli aggression targeting several sites in Sanaa, including the oil company station on Sixty Street, the Hazeez power station south of the capital, and the Presidential Palace complex.

The Houthi-affiliated Ministry of Health stated on Monday that the Israeli airstrikes on Sanaa resulted in 6 deaths and 86 injuries.

This type of missile can carry a fissile and fragmenting warhead capable of covering multiple targets over a larger area than a conventional explosive missile, making it one of the most advanced and complex weapons in modern warfare arsenals.

According to security and military expert Osama Khaled, the fissile missile works through two advanced mechanisms to cause maximum damage in the targeted area. This means the targeted zone remains contaminated and dangerous for extended periods, requiring specialized military engineering teams to clear the aftermath.

Khaled added that such munitions are usually possessed by major powers due to the precise technologies and advanced expertise required, confirming their devastating destructive power and high effectiveness in disrupting enemy forces and instilling fear among ground and civilian forces.

The Israeli army announced on Sunday following its attacks on Sanaa that the Houthis operate under Iranian guidance and funding to strike Israel and its allies and exploit maritime areas to “activate terrorist activities” targeting commercial and shipping vessels.

This Israeli accusation is not new; Israel has often linked Houthi attacks on Israel, whether by missiles or drones, to Iranian technical capabilities. However, the Houthis claim their operations support the Palestinian resistance in Gaza amid the ongoing genocide war waged by the Israeli occupation since October 2023.

Military and strategic affairs researcher Ali Al-Dhahab stated that the arrival of such advanced technology into Houthi hands cannot be separated from external support and armament, particularly from Iran, which plays a central role in developing and delivering modern missile systems to its allied groups in the region.

Al-Dhahab told Al Jazeera that “the possession of such weapons by the Houthis is linked to other issues related to training on launch methods, hitting targets, and handling technical complexities.” He added that Iran might be either the direct source or an intermediary between another producer of these weapons and the Houthis, and that the group’s possession of these missiles is a practical translation of Iran’s strategic support for its allies, especially after the Houthis gained control over vast areas in Yemen and vital Red Sea sites.

He also linked the recent escalation to a new phase of Iranian intervention in the conflict, noting that the multiple fragmentation of warheads was previously exclusive to major powers, and its transfer to regional actors expands the circle of confrontation and breaks some traditional deterrence equations in the region.

This expansion reflects changes in previous power and deterrence equations, with the conflict likely to take new dimensions never reached before, as new actors possess weapon technologies previously unavailable. Recent Iranian attacks on Israel may reflect the nature of future confrontations.

Regarding these technical developments, the researcher said missile operations mainly depend on the type of targeted objective, with fissile missiles usually directed at sensitive military sites or sovereign political centers in Israel, such as airbases or airports.

He explained that “these missiles carry multiple explosive warheads capable of causing a series of simultaneous explosions if multiple targets exist, multiplying damage and expanding tactical and strategic impact.”

Al-Dhahab also noted that the effectiveness of the explosion depends on the proximity or dispersion of targets; closely grouped targets increase the number of explosions and damage range, while limited distances between points make the missile’s effect more tactical than strategic.

The fissile missile is one of the most complex weapons, as its effectiveness depends not only on explosive power but on the intelligence behind the timing and nature of warhead fragmentation. Osama Khaled said the missile is designed “to explode at different stages as needed,” possibly fragmenting before or after impact, resulting in a series of explosions that may repeat depending on the number of targets within the fragmenting warhead.

Khaled added that this technology, usually controlled by very advanced mechanical and electronic systems, makes the fissile missile a “terrifying weapon” on the battlefield, raising challenges for air defenses and military engineering simultaneously. The rapid dispersion ability of sub-warheads and difficulty in detection and interception represent a strategic strength for the attacker, fundamentally changing the nature of engagement.

On July 27, the Houthis announced an escalation of their naval operations against Israel by targeting all ships belonging to companies dealing with Israeli ports regardless of nationality, “in support of Gaza, which has been subjected to genocide since October 7, 2023.”

In response, Israel continues intensive bombing of vital facilities and civilian targets in Sanaa and southern Yemen’s capital, causing casualties and injuries.