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Asia Alhammadi

The Transformation of Houthi Weapons: A Blend of Tradition and Modernity

In recent years, the Houthis have significantly increased their use of ballistic missiles and drones, particularly in their latest military operations. Although Yemen lacked advanced missile production capabilities before the war, reports indicate that the Houthis obtained Iranian technology that enabled them to develop long-range ballistic missiles. While the rapid development of Houthi military capabilities cannot be understood without pointing to Iranian support, the Houthi ideology aspires to establish their military sovereignty as allies of Iran, rather than merely acting as its proxies.

Currently, the Houthis’ reliance on Iranian support remains essential. This support is facilitated either through digital communication via specialized programs that ensure Houthi technicians receive manufacturing guidance from Iranian experts or by guaranteeing the delivery of manufacturing components disguised within civilian electronic goods. However, the Houthis’ ambitions go beyond being a mere Iranian proxy.

For the Houthis, military production capabilities and a robust security apparatus are the ultimate means to achieve their goals. Approximately 80% of the state’s resources in areas under their control are allocated to supporting missile capabilities and developing their security apparatus. The Houthis are keenly aware of the weaknesses in Iran’s internal security system, which hinder Tehran’s ability to achieve its broader objectives. The Houthis also recognize Iran’s failed attempts to secure itself internally, drawing lessons from that experience.

“The Regional and International Dimensions of Houthi Military Development”

The Houthis’ regional role has turned Yemen into an open battleground for Iran’s adversaries. Iran views Yemen’s fragmented state, the Houthis’ dependence on its support, and the absence of a significant role by the legitimate government as an opportunity to involve Yemen in reckless warfare. By doing so, Tehran aims to delay a direct Israeli response for as long as possible.

This situation provokes Yemeni opinions, aware of the imposed reality on their society and the unequal balance of power between the Houthis and Israel, which has taken a firm stance against any aggression.

Unquestionably, these military developments in the region raise international concerns about the worsening humanitarian crisis and the Middle East’s inability to achieve security stability. The escalating pace of events complicates peace efforts, especially if the Houthis continue to bolster their missile arsenal, making containment more challenging. Despite the efforts of the Arab coalition and the international community to curtail the Houthis, their continuous military advancements demonstrate that they have become a regional player that cannot be ignored.

In the short term, it is expected that the Houthis will persist in developing their weapons and targeting their regional adversaries, relying on their unique methods.

“Amid the Fires of War: Israel Prepares Its Response to Its Adversaries” 

Unlike the rapid nature of Houthi attacks, Israel conducts its operations with carefully calculated strategies. Israel is not like Iran, which reserves the “right to respond” and then neglects to act altogether. Instead, Israel aims to maximize the impact of its responses to ensure its adversaries gain no tangible benefits, whether in terms of media or public sympathy.

The provocation engineered by its adversaries to create another humanitarian catastrophe and rally societal support in their favor is a predictable scenario that Israel’s response strategy seeks to deny them.

In the long term, achieving peace in the Middle East requires addressing the root causes of the conflict, including a comprehensive political settlement that ends the civil war and establishes a non-sectarian civilian government. Such a government must be committed to preventing the infiltration of external influence into Yemen, which could threaten the security of Yemen and the region as a whole.

The Houthi military evolution and its implications for regional and international dynamics represent a complex and multi-dimensional challenge that cannot be addressed through traditional frameworks of conflict resolution. The blend of local ingenuity, external support, and the ideological commitment to self-reliance has positioned the Houthis as a formidable and unpredictable player in the Middle East. However, their reliance on Iranian backing highlights an inherent vulnerability that could be exploited through coordinated diplomatic, military, and economic strategies.

The regional consequences of Houthi military expansion transcend the borders of Yemen, exacerbating instability in an already volatile Middle East. The involvement of external powers, coupled with the persistent failure to establish a functioning and inclusive Yemeni state, has transformed the country into a theater of proxy wars. This situation not only endangers Yemen’s sovereignty but also fuels a broader cycle of conflict, rendering the prospect of lasting peace increasingly elusive.

For the international community, the imperative is twofold: first, to address the humanitarian catastrophe that continues to devastate millions of Yemenis, and second, to neutralize the strategic threats posed by the Houthis’ growing military capabilities. This requires a holistic approach that combines pressure on their external backers, targeted sanctions on military supply chains, and robust support for peace-building initiatives led by the United Nations and regional stakeholders.

Ultimately, the path to stability in Yemen and the region hinges on the establishment of a comprehensive political framework that prioritizes inclusivity, accountability, and the rule of law. The long-term solution must seek to dismantle the conditions that allow groups like the Houthis to thrive—namely, systemic governance failures, socioeconomic disparities, and external interference. Without addressing these root causes, the risk of Yemen becoming a permanent source of instability will persist, with far-reaching consequences for regional and global security.

About the Author
Asia Alhammadi is a Yemeni researcher in the natural sciences and quantum computing technology, a reviewer of scientific manuscripts in the Department of Quantum Physics and Information Entropy at Springer Nature Publishing, and an author of many books and articles published on Amazon and elsewhere.
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