New Delhi: The Iran-backed Houthis are attempting to develop their own medium-range ballistic missile using components imported from China, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing UK-based Conflict Armament Research (CAR), which tracks weapons and their supply chains in conflict zones.
The missile could have a range of about 1,200 miles, potentially putting all of Saudi Arabia and Israel within reach. If successful, the effort would significantly expand the group’s ability to strike targets across the region.
The CAR report draws on information provided by Yemeni authorities in July after they intercepted two shipments last year. The consignments contained missile-related equipment concealed among other goods, including components associated with Iran’s Kheibar Shekan, a precision-guided ballistic missile first publicly displayed in Tehran in 2022.
It remains unclear whether the Houthis have successfully manufactured the weapon or how far development has progressed. Their weapons facilities are heavily concealed, making it difficult for outside analysts to assess their production capabilities, analysts at CAR said.
The Kheibar Shekan is notable for its manoeuvrability, which can make it harder for air-defence systems to intercept. Some variants feature a manoeuvrable warhead that separates from the missile’s main body during the final phase of flight, allowing it to adjust its trajectory as it approaches a target. Iran has used the missile against American bases “with some success”, the WSJ reported.
The development comes amid an intensification of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia over the past month.
The Houthis have long relied on Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah for missile technology and weapons that they assemble locally. However, analysts say the group has increasingly developed the capacity to manufacture weapons domestically and source specialised components through international networks.
Medium-range ballistic missiles would enable the Houthis to strike targets deeper inside Saudi Arabia and potentially carry larger warheads than many cruise missiles or drones, said Henry Thompson, a former expert on the United Nations’ Yemen sanctions panel.
The components seized by Yemeni authorities included custom-made metal parts for a missile’s motor and airframe, flight-stabilising fins and components of a solid-propellant rocket motor associated with the Kheibar Shekan series. Authorities also seized tools, testing equipment and raw materials, including ablative material designed to protect missile components from extreme heat.
CAR had previously documented imports of similarly customised metal parts in late 2024 that were linked to the shorter-range Sadr missile. The supplier of those components was not identified.
Shipping records provided to investigators for the equipment detailed in the report identified a Chinese precision-metal manufacturer that advertises expertise in custom aerospace components. The report did not name the company.
Also Read: Month after Houthi offensive, Pakistan, Turkey & Saudi Arabia talk ‘deterrence’ under Mecca pact
China’s role in Houthi supply chains
China has said it respects the United Nations’ arms embargo on the Houthis. While some imported components could have legitimate civilian uses, investigators identified others as specifically designed for missile applications.
Chinese companies have been identified as a major supplier after shipments bound for the Houthis were seized, according to United Nations reports and data compiled by weapons experts. Several suppliers of drone components used by the group and targeted by US sanctions are also based in China.
Data compiled by arms experts showed that 35 percent of military items bound for the Houthis originated in China between 2021 and 2025, up from 5 percent between 2015 and 2018, the WSJ reported.
(Edited by Chingkheinganbi Mayengbam)
Also Read: Could your home CCTV be a war surveillance tool? WSJ report reveals hackers’ new ploy