Yemen's Houthis Achieve Significant Missile Advancement with Chinese Components, Escalating Middle East Threat

Yemen's Houthi rebels have achieved a significant advancement in their domestic production of sophisticated ballistic missiles, utilizing components imported from China, according to an arms intelligence report. Experts have indicated to The National that the militia's manufacturing capabilities are becoming increasingly advanced. The Houthis have developed the Palestine-2 missile, capable of maneuvering at 6,000 kph during its terminal phase, which aids in evading defense systems. This missile is reportedly responsible for the recent attack on Riyadh's King Khalid Airport, which resulted in 13 fatalities. Houthi attacks have notably increased over the past month, seemingly aimed at pressuring Saudi Arabia to lift its blockade on the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

The Conflict Armament Research report, shared with The National, highlights that the Houthis have been substantially aided by specialized missile parts sourced from China. Their teams inspected weaponry from an intercepted shipment destined for the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida. This seizure included highly specialized machined parts for rockets, such as components for stabilising fins and equipment for hypersonic flight.

"The discovery points to a major leap in the group’s domestic production ambitions and has major regional security implications at a time when Houthi forces are intensifying their deep strike campaign against critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia," the report stated. The components, found in containers aboard a cargo ship originating from China, indicate that the Houthis are now proficient in manufacturing the Iranian-made Kheibar Shekan series of ballistic missiles. Their Palestine-2 variant possesses a range of 1,800 km, placing a significant portion of the Middle East within its reach.

These findings also suggest that the rebels, who are subject to a UN arms embargo, have broadened their supply chains beyond traditional Iran-linked networks. The report notes, "The documented components suggest that, in terms of longer-range ballistic missiles, the Houthis have moved beyond simply reassembling Iranian systems." It further emphasizes that only a limited number of countries globally possess the capability for domestic production of missiles with comparable ranges.

While the Houthis have not yet fully mastered the technology for the Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile, Iranian expertise on the ground is reportedly accelerating their progress, according to Dr. Nawaf Obaid of King's College London. He stated, "Their principal constraint is time, not technical impossibility." Although the airport attack is understood to have involved multiple projectiles in a swarm attack, Dr. Obaid indicated that the Houthis currently lack the capacity for large-scale production, adding, "Scale remains their weakness." Analysis from King's College's department of war studies indicates that Saudi Arabia's advanced defense systems successfully intercepted 85 to 90 percent of the projectiles. It is believed that the Houthis exploited a gap between Saudi Arabia's lower and middle air defense layers during the airport attack, rather than achieving a technological breakthrough, Dr. Obaid explained, while commending the kingdom's air defenses for their performance under sustained wartime conditions.

Documents reveal that the contents of four shipping containers, manufactured by a Chinese precision-metal producer specializing in custom aerospace parts, arrived in Yemen's Aden Free Zone in June and October 2025, originating from China. These shipments contained custom-made metal parts, including airframe components and a solid-propellant rocket motor for a Kheibar Shekan missile. This demonstrates the Houthis' procurement of more specialized parts for missile construction, seemingly independent of Iran-linked supply networks. UN reports indicate that Chinese companies constitute the largest source of seized goods destined for the Houthis, who have been importing components for solid-fuel missiles from China for at least two years. China maintains that it adheres to the UN Houthi arms ban.

In response to inquiries about potential UK government actions against Chinese companies allegedly supplying components, the prime minister's official spokesman stated that Britain "strongly condemns Houthi attacks and remains committed to supporting the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." Saudi Arabia's ambassador to London, Prince Abdullah bin Khaled, addressed a cross-party gathering of parliamentarians at the House of Commons, where he conveyed his government's appreciation for the UK's support in confronting the Houthi missile threat. Discussions focused on "recent Houthi attacks against the kingdom, regional security, and the importance of international co-operation in safeguarding stability and supporting peace in Yemen," according to an embassy post on social media.