Yemen Monitor/ Newsroom:
A report by “Iran International“ TV has revealed that the Houthi group in Yemen is shifting its strategy, intensifying drone attacks on Israel while reducing the use of ballistic missiles. This change is attributed to a dwindling supply of essential Iranian components needed to manufacture the missiles, a result of intensified anti-smuggling efforts.
Military experts told the channel that the Houthis are launching near-daily drone attacks, while their missile strikes have decreased. According to Rashed Maalo, a military expert based in Yemen, the group is using Iranian cluster bombs to increase the effectiveness of its ballistic missiles in an attempt to conserve its strategic stockpile in a conflict that is expected to last for years.
The report explained that the Houthis face significant logistical challenges in manufacturing weapons, which explains their focus on drones. Although drones are largely produced locally, the group still relies on Iranian components, such as GPS systems.
Former head of Israeli military intelligence, Danny Citronovitch, confirmed that the Houthis are still importing weapons from Iran, noting that the group lacks the capability to manufacture missiles entirely. Instead, they are smuggled in small parts to be assembled in Yemen. He added that U.S. efforts to intercept smuggling vessels have impacted the Houthis’ capabilities.
Coinciding with these developments, the channel reported that Israeli strikes on the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, and other Houthi-controlled areas that killed 35 people. These strikes targeted military and media sites belonging to the group.
In another airstrike, Israel announced the assassination of 12 officials in the Houthi government, who were meeting in Sana’a. Among them were Prime Minister Ahmed Al-Rahawi and other ministers. Israel described the strike as part of its efforts to confront the Houthi “terrorist regime,” which it called a “central proxy for the Iranian regime.”
Since the Houthis declared solidarity with the Palestinians after the October 7, 2023, operation, the group has intensified its attacks on Israel and has threatened navigation in the Red Sea. They have targeted more than 100 international commercial vessels with missiles and drones, resulting in the sinking of two ships and the deaths of eight sailors.
Although most Houthi attacks have been intercepted by air defense systems, some have penetrated Israeli air defenses, such as a drone attack that killed an Israeli citizen in Tel Aviv and another missile attack that targeted an Israeli airport last May. Another attack targeted a different airport earlier this September.
A report from the Council on Foreign Relations stated that Iranian support has enhanced the Houthis’ combat capabilities, helping them achieve military superiority within Yemen. Experts confirmed that the Houthis rely heavily on Iran for more complex weapon systems and components, while they can produce cheaper systems like drones with Iranian guidance, which explains their strategic shift from ballistic missiles to drones for both tactical and cost-effective reasons.
