Houthi Moves Powered by Arms From Iran, China

“Yemen's Tehran-backed Houthi rebels have catapulted themselves into the heart of the conflict in the Middle East in recent weeks.

 

The militant group has stepped up attacks in the Red Sea, expanded its footprint along the Yemeni coast and asserted control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a crucial corridor for global energy. They have enlarged their sphere of influence to become key players in the war between the U.S. and Iran.

 

With about 350,000 fighters, the Houthis burst out of the territory the group has held for more than a decade in western Yemen. In the lightning offensive, the Houthis seized islands in the Red Sea and expanded their dominion on the mainland, including the port city of Mokha.

 

In mid-August, they moved weapons and thousands of troops to positions around Mokha, threatening their opponents' supply lines. They used their control of Yemeni telecoms systems to listen in on their enemies' calls and to sow confusion and intimidate their rivals into giving up.

 

The Houthis lack a traditional navy, but they operate a disruptive, asymmetric maritime force along Yemen's coastline, relying on Iranian-designed land-based missiles, explosive drones, sea mines and armed fast-attack boats, as well as drone boats, to assert control.

 

The Houthis' arsenal of ballistic and cruise missiles, antiship weapons and drones draws heavily on Iranian technology and components. The group can produce or modify some weapons in Yemen, while relying on Iran for more sophisticated systems and technical assistance. Many of these weapons are stored in underground facilities, says the U.S. Defense Department.

 

The Houthis frequently use Waid suicide drones, local versions of Iran's Shahed. The group also has launched the more sophisticated Samad drone to attack Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

 

The Houthis are the first nonstate actor to deploy antiship ballistic missiles, adapted for operations in the Red Sea. The best known is the Sayyad, which can search and lock onto vessels using radar reflections.

 

The Houthis now have a new source for the supplies they need to launch their attacks: China.

 

Chinese companies are supplying the group with so-called dual-use goods that can be used for both military and civilian purposes. The goods are particularly critical for its drone technology, said United Nations reports and data gathered by arms experts.” [1]

 

1. World News: Houthi Moves Powered by Arms From Iran, China. Faucon, Benoit; Barnett, Andrew; Kiss, Daniel.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 30 Sep 2026: A7.