Conflict Armament Research (CAR) has actively tracked the evolution of Ansar Allah (Houthi) forces' technical capabilities over the past decade, documenting weapons, ammunition, uncrewed systems, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Yemen and the wider Gulf region. CAR's analysis of over 800 missile and UAV components recovered from recent maritime seizures in the Red Sea, including the unprecedented Al Sherwa dhow interdiction on 25 June 2025, provides critical insight into the composition of Houthi advanced conventional weapon systems.
These seizures revealed a continuing supply of Iranian-origin materiel, encompassing advanced anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles, ballistic missile and UAV component modules, and MANPADS, some previously unobserved in Houthi stockpiles. Many components are dual-use electronics, commercially available and widely found on the open market. The materiel was often concealed within industrial machinery, vehicle batteries, and air compressor tanks, accompanied by falsified shipping manifests. This rapid growth in Houthi missile and UAV capabilities, evolving from antiquated Soviet-era systems since 2014, now poses a direct threat to shipping, critical infrastructure, and populated areas regionally.
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