Houthi missile and drone arsenal fuels renewed attacks on Saudi Arabia

SANAA: Yemen’s Houthi movement has developed a diverse arsenal of missiles and drones that allows it to sustain attacks against strategic targets in Saudi Arabia, intensifying regional tensions despite years of military pressure from its opponents.

Since early September, the Iran-aligned group has targeted key oil infrastructure and airports across Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh’s airport reportedly coming under attack 20 times. The Houthis have also unsuccessfully targeted the holy cities of Madina and Makkah, according to an AFP report published on October 16.

The renewed hostilities have raised concerns about the security of Saudi Arabia’s critical infrastructure and the wider impact on regional stability, particularly as the conflict threatens important shipping routes near the Red Sea.

Tit-for-tat attacks escalate tensions

The latest confrontation followed a Saudi bombardment of Sanaa airport in July aimed at preventing a Houthi delegation from landing in Yemen’s capital, according to the report. The incident marked a renewed escalation after a four-year truce.

Since then, both sides have engaged in retaliatory military actions.

April Longley Alley, a Yemen specialist at the Washington Institute, said the Houthis had framed their campaign around reciprocal retaliation.

“The Houthis framed this campaign as blockade for blockade, airport for airport, escalation for escalation,” she said.

The group has also targeted locations near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

A diverse arsenal of missiles and drones

The Houthis possess various ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles that provide different strike capabilities.

According to weapons analysts, some of the group’s missile stocks originated from Yemeni military arsenals seized when the Houthis captured Sanaa in 2014. Other systems have reportedly been smuggled into Yemen or assembled locally using imported components.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Military Balance database identifies several medium-range missiles in the Houthi arsenal, including systems derived from Iranian designs such as the Kheibar Shekan.

The group also possesses short-range missiles, including the Asef anti-ship missile, which the Wilson Center has linked to Iran’s Khalij Fars missile family.

Its cruise missile inventory includes weapons from Iran’s Quds family. According to the Wilson Center, the Quds-4 version is believed to have a range of approximately 2,000 kilometres.

The Houthis also operate aerial and maritime drones. Analyst Niranjan BS of Jane’s said the Waeid-1 and Waeid-2 aerial drones were local copies of Iran’s Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 one-way attack drones.

Iran’s role in weapons development

Iran has provided significant military assistance to the Houthis, particularly through missile and drone technology, according to the Middle East Institute.

Components are reportedly manufactured in Iran and smuggled into Yemen through maritime routes and across the Oman-Yemen border before being assembled.

In June 2024, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on a China-based individual suspected of helping procure materials used by the Houthis to manufacture advanced conventional weapons inside Yemen.

Why the Houthis could sustain the conflict

Despite repeated air campaigns, the Houthis have demonstrated an ability to withstand military pressure and continue operating.

Longley Alley said the movement had previously endured extensive airstrikes conducted by Saudi Arabia, the United States and Israel.

She argued that the group might be prepared for a prolonged confrontation because it had become accustomed to absorbing military attacks.

The expanding use of missiles and drones highlights the challenges facing Saudi Arabia as it attempts to protect critical infrastructure. With retaliatory strikes continuing, the conflict risks prolonging instability across Yemen and threatening security throughout the wider Middle East.