# Houthis' Missile Arsenal Targets Saudi Arabia > Houthis use varied missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia after truce breach. - Title: Houthis' Missile Arsenal Targets Saudi Arabia · Dawn - Summary: Houthis use varied missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia after truce breach. Houthis have built missile and drone capabilities to target Saudi… - Keywords: houthi, saudi arabia, missile strikes, yemen, iran, ballistic missiles, drones, sanaa, taiz governorate, red sea, bab al-mandeb strait, kheibar shekan - Source: Dawn — https://dawn.com/news/2037548/the-houthis-varied-arsenal-used-to-strike-saudi-arabia - Author: AFP - Published: 2026-10-16T05:21:12+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: houthi, saudi arabia, missile strikes, yemen, iran, ballistic missiles, drones, sanaa, taiz governorate, red sea, bab al-mandeb strait, kheibar shekan ## 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 ## Key takeaway Houthis have built missile and drone capabilities to target Saudi infrastructure following a truce breach after Saudi bombed Sanaa airport.