ASSESSMENTS

Missiles Remain a Potent Houthi Weapon

Jul 10, 2017 | 15:53 GMT

Throughout the war in Yemen, forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the onetime ruling General People's Congress party have launched ballistic missiles at targets both within Yemen and in Saudi Arabia. The missiles are a critical tool for the Houthi-Saleh alliance to use to strike back at the Saudi-led coalition, whose air capabilities give it a significant advantage in the conflict.

Houthi rebels stand guard during a gathering in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, to mobilize more fighters. Rebel forces in Yemen continue to launch ballistic missiles against Saudi-led forces, modifying and steadily improving the weapons' capabilities.

(MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Forecast Highlights

Despite continuous pressure from Saudi-led air operations, Houthi and Saleh loyalists in Yemen continue to pose a threat using ballistic missiles.
It appears that local engineers have been able to modify ballistic missiles to increase their capabilities, and continue to have access to stockpiles to further their activities.
There are no indications that rebels are near the indigenous production of missile systems, however. At this point Houthi and Saleh missile capabilities remain entirely dependent on existing stockpiles and foreign supply.

Throughout the war in Yemen, forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the onetime ruling General People's Congress party have launched ballistic missiles at targets within Yemen and in Saudi Arabia. The Houthi-Saleh alliance uses them to strike back at the Saudi-led coalition, whose air capabilities give it a significant advantage in the conflict. Just this month, Houthi sources claimed to have launched several Zelzal-2 missiles at Saudi military bases near Yemen. Despite the military effort that Saudi-led coalition forces, backed by the United States and United Kingdom, have mounted against them, Houthi and Saleh loyalists continue to use ballistic missiles and, they claim, are even improving the capabilities of the missiles. This improvement, which is happening with possible external support, could constitute a step toward indigenous missile development capabilities....

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