Brief
Houthis aim to build medium‑range missiles using Chinese parts, report says
The UK‑based group says the rebels want parts that could enable a version of Iran's Kheibar Shekan missile.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Yemen's Iran‑backed Houthi rebels are reportedly trying to assemble a new medium‑range ballistic missile system with Chinese‑made components, according to a Conflict Armament Research (CAR) report released on Wednesday.
What happened
The CAR analysis, which tracks weapon flows in conflict zones, says the Houthis have obtained specific parts that could be used to produce a missile similar to Iran's Kheibar Shekan, a precision‑guided weapon with an estimated range of about 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometres). The report notes that such parts are not dual‑use items and would require detailed design information to integrate into a missile.
What the reports add
CAR senior analyst Fabian Hinz said the Houthis' manufacturing ambitions exceed earlier expectations, emphasizing that the parts are highly specialised. The Chinese embassy in Washington, represented by spokesperson Liu Chang, did not comment on the CAR findings but reiterated that China follows a “prudent and responsible approach” to military exports and strictly controls dual‑use items.
What was said
"The local ambition of the Houthis for manufacturing is beyond what was previously assumed," Hinz told CAR.
"These types of parts are very specific, and producing them would have required design information related to the missile," Hinz added.
"China has always adopted a prudent and responsible approach to the export of military products and strictly controls the export of dual‑use items," Liu Chang said in a statement.
How it came about
The report follows a series of recent developments in the Yemen conflict, including Saudi‑Yemeni military actions near the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait and earlier reports that the Houthis have been seeking advanced weaponry. Felo News previously covered the discovery of Chinese missile components in Yemen on 14 October, linking them to a potential Kheibar Shekan‑type missile.
Key facts
- CAR says Houthis are seeking Chinese parts to build a medium‑range ballistic missile. (gulfnews.com)
- The parts could enable a missile similar to Iran's Kheibar Shekan, with a range of about 1,200 miles. (gulfnews.com)
- Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Chang said China controls dual‑use exports responsibly. (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “Yemen's Houthis look to build ballistic missiles with more Chinese supplies: report”
