Houthis' Missile Arsenal Targets Saudi Arabia
Houthis use varied missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia after truce breach.
In brief
Houthis use varied missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia after truce breach. Houthis have built missile and drone capabilities to target Saudi infrastructure following a truce breach after Saudi bombed Sanaa airport. Originally reported by Dawn.
Houthis' Strike Campaign
Houthis have built missile and drone capabilities for varied and sustained strikes against Saudi Arabia since early September.
“Since early September, the Houthis have hit key oil infrastructure and airports across Saudi Arabia, notably Riyadh’s airport, which has been targeted 20 times.”
Trigger for Escalation
Saudi Arabia bombed Sanaa airport in July to prevent Houthi delegation from landing, prompting Houthi return to hostilities.
“The trigger for their return to hostilities, after a four-year truce, was a Saudi bombardment of the airport at Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, in July, to prevent a Houthi delegation from landing there.”
Tit-for-Tat Strategy
Houthis framed their campaign as blockade for blockade, airport for airport, escalation for escalation.
“The Houthis framed this campaign as blockade for blockade, airport for airport, escalation for escalation”
Arsenal Components
Houthis possess ballistic missiles, drones, and cruise missiles derived from Iranian models for strikes in the Red Sea.
“The Houthis possess a large range of ballistic missiles and drones, which they are using to also hit targets in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea.”
Missile Sources
Houthis acquired missile stocks from seized arsenals in 2014 and smuggled systems from Iran.
“The group’s missile stocks partly come from arsenals seized when it took Yemen’s capital Sanaa in 2014, as well as "whole systems smuggled in, or self-manufactured systems built from parts that were themselves smuggled into Yemen, primarily via the Arabian Sea"”
Missile Types
Houthis use medium-range missiles like Kheibar Shekan and short-range missiles such as Asef anti-ship missiles.
“According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Military Balance database, the Houthis have several types of medium-range missiles, several of them derived from Iranian models, such as the Kheibar Shekan.”
Iranian Support
Iran provides critical military assistance to Houthis, including missile and drone parts smuggled into Yemen.
“Iran has provided critical military assistance to the Houthis, particularly with the delivery of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems”
US Sanctions
US Treasury sanctioned a Chinese man suspected of procuring materials for Houthi weapons manufacturing in June 2024.
“In June 2024, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on a man in China suspected of links to the Houthis, who it said played "a key role in procuring materials that enable Houthi forces to manufacture advanced conventional weapons inside Yemen".”
Endurance Capability
Houthis have withstood previous air campaigns from Saudis, Americans, and Israelis, making them battle-hardened.
“We need to remember with the Houthis that they have withstood punishing air campaigns before, from the Saudis, from the Americans, and from the Israelis”
Long-Term Strategy
Houthis calculate they can endure longer due to experience absorbing strikes compared to Saudis.
“This is a battle-hardened group, and they have much less to lose than the Saudis.”
Houthi Resilience
Houthis are expected to use their arsenal for sustained operations due to prior conflict experience.
“The Houthis are probably calculating that they can go longer because they’re used to absorbing these strikes”
Strategic Impact
Houthi strikes on Saudi infrastructure have escalated tensions in the Red Sea region.
“They have also, unsuccessfully, targeted the cities of Madina and Makkah.”
Geopolitical Context
Houthi actions reflect broader Iran-Saudi tensions in the Red Sea and Gulf region.
“The Houthis have also, unsuccessfully, targeted the cities of Madina and Makkah.”
Current Situation
Houthis continue to strike Saudi infrastructure as part of their ongoing campaign.
“Since then, there have been "tit-for-tat" military strikes”
The headline
Houthis have built missile and drone capabilities to target Saudi infrastructure following a truce breach after Saudi bombed Sanaa airport.
