Exclusive: Explosions Reported Near Al-Hazm as Signs Point to Disrupted Houthi Missile and Drone Launch

   Multiple explosions were heard Sunday around Al-Hazm, the capital of Yemen’s Al-Jawf Governorate, amid growing tensions following Houthi threats to retaliate over the interception of an Iranian aircraft.

A military expert told Sheba Intelligence that the sequence of explosions is more consistent with an airstrike targeting a Houthi launch site than with a failed missile launch.

According to the expert, the first explosion was likely caused by an air-delivered strike, while the subsequent blasts were probably the result of secondary explosions from missiles and drones prepared for launch.

The assessment came in response to local speculation suggesting the explosions may have resulted from a launch failure. The expert dismissed that explanation, noting that a failed launch would normally produce a single explosion rather than a series of successive detonations.

The incident comes against the backdrop of escalating rhetoric from the Houthis. Since yesterday, the group has warned that any interception of the Iranian aircraft would be met with a “dual strike” involving missiles and drones, while Houthi-affiliated media outlets have spent recent hours signaling unspecified “surprises.”

If confirmed, the incident may indicate that preparations for such an operation were disrupted before execution, potentially preventing a planned retaliatory attack. However, no official confirmation has yet been issued regarding the source of the explosions or the extent of any damage.