Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have significantly expanded their arsenal with advanced drones, missiles and underwater weapons supplied through covert procurement networks, according to a new report by the Conflict Armament Research. Investigators documented more than 800 weapons components seized in the Red Sea, including anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles previously unseen in Houthi stockpiles.
The report found many components arrived as coded assembly kits, designed for reconstruction inside Yemen. Missile parts reportedly carried Iranian system names, strengthening evidence of Tehran’s continued military support despite claims the Houthis had become self-reliant.
Researchers said the shipments pose a growing threat to international shipping lanes, regional infrastructure and security in the Bab Al Mandeb Strait. Although only five per cent of recovered components originated directly from Iran, the remainder came from suppliers across 16 countries and territories, highlighting a complex global procurement network sustaining Houthi military capabilities.
