Yemen Monitor / Newsroom / Agencies:
Experts say that the Houthis — described as Iran’s “eyes and ears” in Yemen — are working diligently to expand their weapons arsenal by assembling new equipment that poses a “direct threat” to shipping, critical infrastructure, and the wider region.
An investigation conducted by the Conflict Armament Research Center (CAR) documented more than 800 weapon components seized during interdiction operations in the Red Sea. The investigation concluded that the Houthis had acquired a “diverse range of advanced missiles and drones.”
The arms interceptions carried out last year by Yemen’s anti-Houthi National Resistance Forces were among the largest of their kind, involving 750 tons of ammunition and military equipment.
The seized shipments revealed that the Houthis now possess new weapons that were previously unknown to exist in their stockpiles, including anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and underwater weapon systems.
Compared to their outdated Soviet-era missiles in 2014, the 2025 seizures show that the Houthis now possess at least 10 different types of missiles. The weapons also arrived in separate parts carrying codes indicating the system to which each component belonged.
The report stated that “the missile names, crucially, are all Iranian rather than the designations used by the Houthis,” reinforcing the belief that Iran continues to supply the Houthis with weapons and intelligence, despite speculation that the group has become largely self-sufficient.
However, Iran’s significant influence over the procurement and classification of components does not mean it is the sole source. The report noted that only 5% of the 800 documented components originated from Iran, while the rest came from 16 other countries and territories.
This suggests that while the Houthis depend on Iran, Iran itself also relies on foreign technology to support its missile and drone systems. Rob Hunter-Perkins, Head of Research at CAR and one of the report’s authors, described the shipments as “DIY kits,” explaining that the system is deliberately designed to be complex.
Hunter-Perkins added: “The emergence of these DIY assembly kits not only makes detecting shipments more difficult, but also demonstrates the high level of planning and coordination involved in maintaining these supplies.” The report also noted that the arrival of weapons in separate parts indicates that the Houthis possess the technical expertise needed to assemble them.
Despite these strong ties, the Houthis have attempted to portray themselves as an ally rather than a proxy of Iran, taking several positions to show they are not subordinates but voluntary participants in Iran’s regional activities.
The group played a noticeably limited role during Iran’s conflict with the US and Israel, unlike its attacks in the Red Sea during Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. The Houthis also reached a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia in 2019, years before the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement.
Regardless of the Houthis’ attempts to distance themselves from Iran, evidence from the seized weapons stockpiles clearly shows that they remain heavily dependent on its supply network.
CAR’s analysis concluded that electronic components produced within the past two years were found among the seized materials, indicating that the procurement networks acquiring these items remain strong and active, and that the Houthis continue to receive newly developed systems.
