The Wall Street Journal, citing Conflict Armament Research, reported that Yemeni authorities seized two containers last year that carried components for a Kheibar Shekan‑style missile. The cargo included custom‑made metal parts for missile motors, airframes, stabilising fins and solid‑propellant motors, as well as heat‑shield material designed to protect missiles during atmospheric re‑entry.
The Kheibar Shekan, unveiled by Iran in 2022, carries a range of roughly 2,000 km, meaning the Houthis could target any point in Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Bloomberg’s September 23 investigation found four containers at Aden’s port carrying suspected missile parts, drone components, control systems and machine‑tool equipment, all shipped from China to Hodeidah. Fawaz Al Bsesi, the director general of Aden’s ports, told Bloomberg that the containers were split across four shipments to evade detection, with one containing a complete missile structure.
The pattern marks a shift from the group’s earlier reliance on Iranian‑assembled systems to a growing domestic manufacturing capability, with analysts noting the Houthis have begun integrating AI into missile guidance.
Saudi Arabia has responded by bolstering its air‑defense network, deploying additional Patriot batteries near the Yemen border in anticipation of potential long‑range strikes.