US concerned that Russia may provide supersonic missiles to Houthis
Illustrative photo: Russia may transfer Onyx missiles to the Houthis (Russian Media)
The United States is concerned about rumors that Yemeni Houthis may receive Russian missiles. This would have a destabilizing effect, states US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking.
Lenderking was asked to comment on reports that Russia is negotiating the transfer of advanced Yakhont anti-ship missiles (the export name of the supersonic Onyx missiles) to the Houthis.
"It’s something that we are alarmed about. Any cooperation in the arms sector between the Houthis and the Russians would be very destabilizing," he noted.
This question arose after Reuters reported at least two meetings between Russian and Houthi representatives this year in Tehran.
At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow could provide long-range weapons to those who want to strike Western targets if the US and its allies allow Ukraine to hit deep into Russian territory with Western weapons.
Onyx missile
Oniks is a supersonic anti-ship missile capable of striking targets within a 300-kilometer radius.
The Russian forces have repeatedly used these missiles in the war against Ukraine. According to Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi on August 20, since the beginning of the full-scale war, Russia has used 211 Onyx missiles against targets on Ukrainian territory.
Ukrainian air defense forces managed to shoot down only 12 of these missiles.
