The al-Najm al-Thaqib (Arabic:النجم الثاقب, "piercing star") is a Yemeni missile system developed by the Houthis and revealed on 26 May 2015.[1] The Houthis claimed that these missiles could violate the blockade imposed by UN resolution 2216 imposed by the Arab Coalition.[3] American reports suggest that this missile was designed to attack nearby targets like Jizan without expending their diminishing stock of longer range missiles.[1] It is somewhat similar to Iranian Oghab missiles,[3] however it lacks fins.[3][2] All civil airports in Jizan, Asir and Najran have been closed due to the risk of missile strikes since July 2015.[1]

Al-Najm al-Thaqib/النجم الثاقب
TypeRocket artillery[1]
Place of originYemen
Service history
Used byHouthis
WarsYemeni Civil War (2015–present)
Production history
Variantsal-Najm al-Thaqib-1
al-Najm al-Thaqib-2
Specifications
Length3 metres[2]

Operational
range
al-Najm al-Thaqib 1-45 km[2]
al-Najm al-Thaqib 2-75 km[2]
References

Characteristics

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Al-Najm al-Thaqib 1

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Al-Najm al-Thaqib 1 has a range of 45 km and a warhead of 50 kg explosive.[3][2]

Al-Najm al-Thaqib 2

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Al-Najm al-Thaqib 2 has a range of 75 km and a warhead of 75 kg explosive.[3][2]

References

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  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Knights, Michael; Boghardt, Lori Plotkin. "Border Fight Could Shift Saudi Arabia's Yemen War Calculus". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Archived from the original on 2019-12-21.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h "خطير للغاية .. سلاح ايراني مرعب يصل يد الحوثيين ويشكل أكبر خطر على السعودية (صور+تفاصيل)". یمن سعید. Archived from the original on 2020-05-08.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "The terror of Iranian weapons.. Houthi Forces Threaten Gulf Security". Abaad Studies&Research Center. Archived from the original on 2020-05-08. Retrieved 2018-02-13.