Recent attacks on Riyadh’s international airport highlight the increasing military capabilities of Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have transformed from a regional insurgency into one of the Middle East’s most potent non-state armed groups. The latest missile strike, the third at the airport within a week, resulted in 12 fatalities and over 300 injuries, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
Beyond targeting the Saudi capital’s infrastructure, the Houthis have recently expanded their control along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the strategic port of Mokha and Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint. These territorial gains threaten the vital shipping routes used for global oil exports. Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have initiated counteroffensives in response to these advances, while the Houthis maintain a blockade on Saudi ports and have reportedly targeted Saudi vessels attempting to navigate the strait.
Experts note that the Houthis’ rise stems from a decade-long process of military development, aided substantially by Iranian support. Initially viewed as a relatively informal militia, the group has since acquired significant military assets, including ballistic missiles, advanced drones, and anti-ship weaponry, much of it adapted or locally produced from imported components, including from China. Their arsenal comprises missiles such as the hypersonic Palestine-2, derived from Iranian designs, as well as the long-range Asef anti-ship missile and Quds cruise missiles. They also employ Iranian-designed hybrid drone-missiles and explosive drone boats, which have reportedly downed U.S. and Israeli surveillance drones.
The group’s military sophistication has been bolstered by training and technical advice from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Lebanon’s Hizbollah. A number of Houthi specialists have traveled to Iran to enhance their missile and drone capabilities. Reports also suggest that the Houthis have begun leveraging artificial intelligence technologies to refine their missile systems, indicating an evolving level of technical expertise.
A key factor in the Houthis’ operational success has been the weakness and disorganization of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government forces. Analysts highlight issues such as inflated troop numbers, delayed or diverted salaries, and weaker battlefield leadership among government forces. In contrast, the Houthis benefit from cohesive political leadership, motivated fighters, and superior coordination, intelligence gathering, and communications operations.
The rapid fall of Mokha to Houthi forces, combined with their control of Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, provides them with strategic advantages. Control over these areas facilitates the deployment of explosive drone boats and extends the reach of their missile systems against maritime targets, intensifying the threat to shipping lanes. Observers warn that holding Perim Island could significantly enhance the Houthis’ ability to disrupt maritime traffic through this vital corridor.
While Iranian support remains central to the Houthis’ military development, their growing autonomy in manufacturing and operational capabilities underscores their transformation into a well-organized and increasingly formidable force in the region’s ongoing conflict.