Houthis Are Building New Missiles With Chinese Parts: Israel and Saudi Arabia Could Be Within Their Range.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels are attempting to manufacture advanced ballistic missiles using components imported from China, a development that could significantly expand their ability to strike targets across the Middle East and reduce their dependence on Iranian weapons shipments.

A new investigation by Conflict Armament Research, reported Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal, found that the militant group has obtained specialized missile components from a Chinese supplier to develop a version of Iran's Kheibar Shekan precision-guided ballistic missile.

The weapon could have a range of approximately 1,200 miles, or 1,900 kilometers, potentially placing all of Saudi Arabia and Israel within striking distance. The group has already launched dozens of missiles at Israel, but the development might increase the amount.

The findings come as renewed Houthi attacks against Saudi targets threaten to further destabilize the region and disrupt global energy markets.

Investigators examined evidence from shipments intercepted by Yemeni authorities last year. The cargo contained custom-made metal components, rocket motor parts, stabilizing fins, testing equipment, and heat-resistant materials used in ballistic missile production. Some of the equipment had been concealed among ordinary commercial goods.

Shipping documents identified a Chinese precision-metal manufacturer specializing in aerospace components, although the company's name was not disclosed. The findings suggest that the Houthis are moving beyond assembling weapons supplied by Iran toward developing a more sophisticated domestic manufacturing capability.

The Kheibar Shekan, first publicly displayed by Iran in 2022, is designed to maneuver during flight, making interception more challenging. Some versions feature a separating warhead section that can adjust its trajectory as it approaches a target.

Acquiring the technology to produce a comparable weapon would represent a substantial advancement for the Houthis, who have already demonstrated their ability to launch missile and drone attacks against Israel, Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping.

The latest revelations follow a separate Bloomberg investigation published in September that documented Chinese industrial equipment and dual-use components intercepted while being transported toward Houthi-controlled territory.

That investigation described shipments containing machinery, drone engines and suspected missile components, highlighting the group's increasingly sophisticated international procurement network. The United States has previously identified Chinese-based businesses and intermediaries that supply the Houthis.

In July 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned individuals and companies accused of facilitating the procurement and transportation of military-grade materials from China and Hong Kong to Yemen.

Washington said those networks helped the Houthis obtain components needed to manufacture missiles and drones used against military and civilian targets. However, the presence of Chinese-manufactured components does not establish that Beijing directly authorized their transfer.

China maintains that it complies with United Nations restrictions on weapons supplies to the Houthis. The missile revelations coincide with an escalating confrontation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.

Recent attacks on Saudi infrastructure have included strikes against Riyadh's international airport and energy-related facilities. A weekend attack on the airport killed 13 people and disrupted operations.