Houthis reportedly building long-range ballistic missile with Chinese components
A report by Conflict Armament Research says the Houthis have started producing an advanced ballistic missile using components supplied by a Chinese company. If its reported range is confirmed, the missile could reach all of Saudi Arabia and Israel, increasing concern about the group’s ability to strike targets across the region.
The report draws on information from Yemeni authorities who seized two shipments of Chinese missile equipment last year, but the Houthis’ progress is unclear because their weapons facilities are concealed. The missile is described as a version of Iran’s Kheibar Shekan, with a potential range of 1,200 miles, around 300 miles farther than Iranian variants. The report comes amid recent Houthi attacks on Saudi targets, including damage to offices at the Aramco headquarters in Dhahran; officials reported no casualties.
- Report says Houthis are making advanced missiles with Chinese components.
- The reported range is 1,200 miles.
- Their production progress remains unclear.
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The Houthis are an armed movement based in Yemen that has fought Yemen’s government and become involved in wider regional conflicts. Ballistic missiles are weapons that travel high into the air before descending towards a target, and their reach depends on their design and payload.
Conflict Armament Research is an organisation that investigates weapons and their supply chains. Its report says seized shipments included missile equipment from a Chinese company and that the Houthis may be building a missile based on an Iranian design; how far production has progressed is not known.
A missile with the reported range could put targets across Saudi Arabia and Israel within reach. This matters because Houthi attacks have already affected regional security, while the origins and movement of weapons supplied to armed groups are a concern for governments in the region.
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The case for
If the reported range and production claims are accurate, the missile could substantially widen the Houthis’ ability to threaten targets across the region. Supporters of a strong response would argue that access to advanced foreign components and recent attacks make improved monitoring, defensive measures and pressure on suppliers prudent to protect civilians and deter further strikes.
The case against
The missile’s progress and capabilities remain uncertain: the report relies on information from seized shipments, while the group’s concealed facilities make production difficult to verify. A cautious approach would avoid treating a potential range as a confirmed operational threat, since alarm or escalation based on incomplete evidence could worsen regional tensions without improving security.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Houthis ‘have started producing their own advanced missiles using Chinese parts’”.