Houthis use Chinese parts to build missiles resembling the Islamic Republic's Khorramshahr

Yemen's Houthis, allies of the Islamic Republic, are building advanced ballistic missiles resembling the Islamic Republic's Khorramshahr missile using components imported from China. The finding comes from research by Conflict Armament Research, an organisation that tracks weapons supply chains in war zones; the findings were first published by the Wall Street Journal.

According to the research, the components recovered include parts of the missile's engine and body made by a Chinese manufacturer of precision metal parts, flight-stabilising fins, and parts of the solid-fuel motor of the Khorramshahr family of missiles. The likely range of these missiles is estimated at about 1,930 kilometres, which covers all of Saudi Arabia and Israel.

From dependence on the Islamic Republic to production in Yemen

Fabian Hinz, an analyst at the organisation, said it is possible the Houthis have already begun producing these missiles, although their efforts so far have not been very successful. For decades the Houthis relied on the Islamic Republic and Lebanon's Hezbollah for weapons, and they are now trying to become more self-sufficient in production. The Islamic Republic unveiled the Khorramshahr missile in 2022, and it was used repeatedly in the recent war with the United States, including in attacks on American forces and facilities.

Last year Yemeni officials seized two ships that had hidden missile equipment among other cargo. An earlier Bloomberg investigation had also shown that suspected missile parts, drone components, computer-controlled machining equipment and fins resembling parts of the Islamic Republic's ballistic missiles were found in four containers seized at the port of Aden.

The role of Chinese companies

According to experts and the United Nations, Chinese companies are the largest source of goods seized en route to Houthi-controlled areas, and most of the group's drone components also come from China. Last year the United States accused Chinese companies of helping the Houthis attack American ships in the Red Sea; Beijing says it complies with the UN arms embargo on the Houthis.

The report comes as the Houthis have expanded their missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, including the attack on the Aramco office building in Dhahran and missile fragments that wounded four people in Riyadh.

Chinese parts allow the Houthis to build a version of the Islamic Republic's Khorramshahr missile in Yemen itself.