Houthi Rebels Expand Arsenal With Unseen Maritime Weapons and Advanced Drones, Experts Reveal

Houthi rebels are experimenting with innovative weaponry, including 'loitering torpedoes,' as they escalate their war-making capabilities in Yemen and conduct attacks across the Middle East, according to new revelations from arms experts. While long-range Houthi strikes have drawn significant attention, the group also utilizes an array of close-range drones and anti-tank weapons during their pushes toward the sea in Yemen, findings by Conflict Armament Research show.

The British weapons investigation group, whose team visited Yemen this month, noted that while Iran remains crucial for resupplying the Houthis, the rebels are also actively conducting independent research. The National recently highlighted Iran's pivotal role in the latest Houthi offensive, with Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel stationed in Yemen as Tehran leverages the conflict to open a new front in the regional war. Last week, the Houthis captured the entirety of Yemen's Red Sea coastline in a rapid advance that broadens the scope of the Middle East conflict, a crisis that has divided families and displaced over 125,000 individuals.

Fabian Hinz, an analyst at Conflict Armament Research, stated that the Houthis have advanced their arsenal alongside the "tactics, techniques and procedures" used to deploy them. A recent instance involved a time-sensitive ballistic missile launch shortly following a surveillance drone flight. Mr. Hinz noted that despite the heavy focus on longer-range strike capabilities, the group has accumulated numerous systems to bolster internal combat operations, encompassing small drones, loitering munitions, artillery rockets, close-range ballistic missiles, and anti-tank guided missiles.

"Crucially, this includes evidence of Houthi experimentation with technology that Conflict Armament Research has not documented in the possession of any armed group elsewhere in the world," said Mr. Hinz, pointing to navigation modules and propellers potentially utilized in loitering torpedoes to greatly extend maritime attack ranges. The Houthis reported seizing 5,400 square kilometers of territory during their recent sweep and executed attacks in Saudi Arabia, which included a failed drone launch toward Makkah.

Previously, the rebels intervened in the regional war by targeting shipping lanes in solidarity with Palestinians and Iran. Although the US, UK, and pro-government forces in Yemen have intercepted cargo transfers from Iran to choke off supply lines, CAR analyzed cargo seized in June 2025 and discovered weapons of an unprecedented scale and scope. Rob Hunter-Parkins, the group's head of research, explained that Iran-linked supply networks are shipping complete weapons and knockdown kits for local assembly while also enabling local manufacturing. Evidence further indicates the Houthis are utilizing Iran's technological foundation to pursue independent research, such as applying hydrogen power to extend uncrewed system ranges.

In May, the same organization revealed the development of a stockpile comprising anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and underwater weapons, elevating the Houthi arsenal to at least 10 missile types compared to their archaic Soviet-era missiles from 2014. The conflict in Yemen has persisted since 2014 following the Houthi takeover of Sanaa and the subsequent intervention of a Saudi-led coalition. With four million internally displaced persons prior to the recent escalations, some residents have been forced to relocate multiple times over the past 12 years.

While the US has largely avoided direct engagement, Vice President JD Vance and foreign policy adviser Massad Boulos have hinted at behind-the-scenes discussions. A Reuters report citing sources indicated that US officials met with Houthi representatives in Oman over the weekend, where the Houthis assured the US they harbor no intent to target American ships. While the US State Department did not officially confirm the meeting, it emphasized that safeguarding Red Sea shipping and preventing Middle Eastern terrorism exports remain core interests for Washington.