How Yemen's Houthi rebels get their weapons – Firstpost

“The Houthis have fired a surface-to-surface missile from Yemen into our territory. They should know by now that we demand a high price for any attempt to harm us. Whoever attacks us will not escape our weapons,” said an outraged Benjamin Netanyahu, vowing revenge on the Yemen-based rebel group after it fired a ballistic missile at Israel on Sunday.

At around 6:30 a.m. (local time) on Sunday, sirens blared in Israel and local media showed footage of people running to shelters at Ben Gurion International Airport southeast of Tel Aviv. Panic spread after a missile, which the Houthis claimed was a state-of-the-art hypersonic surface-to-surface missile, hit an open area in the Ben Shemen forest and sparked a fire near Kfar Daniel. Fortunately, there were no reports of damage or casualties.

This represents the latest escalation in Israel's ongoing war against Hamas, which has also drawn in other groups such as the Houthis, Hezbollah and others collectively known as Iran's “Axis of Resistance.”

The attack also sheds light on the Houthis' weapons stockpiles. What do they have in their arsenal? Where do they get their weapons from? We take a closer look and give you the answers.

Who are the Houthis?

The Houthis are a Yemeni militia named after its founder, Hussein Badreddin al Houthi. They are allied and supported by Iran and are part of the “Axis of Resistance.” According to a US report, the relationship between the Houthis and Iran has evolved, with Iran viewing them as an extension of its regional power.

Their slogan has long been: “God is greatest; death to America; death to Israel; cursed be the Jews; victory to Islam.” BrookingsThe group’s official name is Ansar Allah, which means “supporters of God.”

What weapons do the Houthis have?

The Houthis were originally believed to be a primitive force armed with outdated Kalashnikovs. However, this is far from the truth. The Yemeni rebels have an arsenal that includes modern drones, cruise and ballistic missiles, and anti-ship weapons.

Although there is no precise information about the Houthis' arsenal, their attacks provide insight into their weapons stockpiles. For example, during the Yemeni civil war in 1994, the Houthis had a Scud missile that originated in the USSR. In the years between 2015 and 2021, the Houthis have also fired several unarmed vehicles (drones) and ballistic missiles at targets in Saudi Arabia.

Houthis spokesmen also boasted that they possess several missiles, including the Toufan – a long-range ballistic missile with a range of about 2,000 km. The Houthis also possess the Tankeel, Aqeel and Quds-4 missiles.

In addition, they have the Sayad drone, which is used for one-way suicide missions, and the Shahed drones, which have a range of 900 km and can carry a payload of 20 kg.

According to a senior US defense official, the Houthis have weapons that can reach the Mediterranean.

The Houthis also reportedly possess Burkan series and Fateh-110 missiles, which bolster the Yemeni group's firepower.

However, some experts point out that one should be cautious given the military power of the Houthis and their arsenal. According to a Counter-extremism The Houthis reportedly displayed the Zelzal-3 missile during the 2023 parade. However, it appeared to be flapping in the wind, suggesting that the Houthis were displaying a model rather than a real missile. However, the report adds that one should be wary of the group and its arsenal of weapons.

How do the Houthis get their weapons?

The United States and Saudi Arabia say most of the weapons, including drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, are Iranian. Officials say there is evidence of debris with Iranian manufacturing markings, naval interceptions of missile-smuggling dhows from Iran, and Farsi-written missile training and equipment materials seized in Houthi-controlled territory. In addition, missiles such as the Burkan and Quds-1 all bear Iranian fingerprints in design and manufacture.

According to a US Department of Defense report, Iran is supporting the Houthis as a cheap and effective way to challenge Saudi Arabia and other rivals.

As Dr. Elisabeth Kendall, Middle East specialist at the University of Cambridge, BBC“The Houthis could not operate at this level without Iranian weapons, training and intelligence.”

To supply weapons to the Houthis, Iran typically smuggles them overland. A senior Yemeni military source was quoted as saying that one of the smuggling routes goes through Shehen, an unguarded area along the Yemeni-Oman border.

Another way the Houthis acquire such weapons is through war. The Houthis have acquired military weapons and armor from other forces. A 2016 report showed that Houthi forces had captured at least 16 C-90C rocket launchers that came either from Saudi forces or from local pro-Hadi fighters that Saudi Arabia had equipped.

In 2015, the Houthis captured a shipment of RPG-26 variants in an airdrop incident by the Saudi coalition. The Yemeni group even posted a thank-you letter to Saudi King Salman after the incident.

Interestingly, the Houthis have also taken advantage of the government's weak control over its own weapons. In the past, Houthi forces have looted government weapons depots, gaining access to rockets and other heavy weapons.

To what extent have the Houthis been involved in the war?

Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas, the Houthis are said to have fired drones and rockets at Israel. However, most of these attacks have been intercepted.

They have also launched attacks on merchant ships they believe have ties to Israel. These attacks forced several shipping companies to reroute their ships to avoid the Red Sea. And according to one report, maritime trade through Egypt's Suez Canal, the waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, fell by 42 percent in the first two months of this year.

Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, called Sunday's attack a “beginning” and left many fearing that a full-scale war was imminent.

With contributions from agencies