Yemen's Houthis Attempting to Produce Advanced Missiles Using Chinese Parts

The Houthi rebels in Yemen are reportedly attempting to manufacture advanced ballistic missiles using components supplied by China, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. A report from Conflict Armament Research (CAR), an organization that monitors weapons and their supply chains, indicates that the Houthis imported various components from a Chinese supplier to produce a version of Iran's Khaybar Shekan cruise missile. This missile is expected to have a range of approximately 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers), potentially placing all of Saudi Arabia and Israel within its strike capability.

The CAR report, based on information from Yemeni authorities in July, stems from the interception of two missile equipment shipments last year that were concealed within other goods. Fabian Hinz, a senior analyst at CAR, stated that while it's unclear if the Houthis are currently succeeding in their production attempts, the import of such components suggests they are either manufacturing the missiles or trying to do so. He noted that Houthi weapons facilities are well-concealed, making it difficult to ascertain the exact stage of their missile production process.

Chinese firms are identified as the primary source of intercepted goods destined for the Houthis, according to UN reports and arms expert data. Most suppliers of drone parts to the Houthis, many of whom are subject to U.S. sanctions, operate from China. Earlier this week, it was reported that Anthropic acknowledged the Houthis had recently used its AI tool, Claude, to develop warheads, with the company describing how a terror cell utilized Claude for three separate programs.