The Houthis have begun producing their own advanced ballistic missiles using Chinese parts, according to a new report.
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Houthis → begin → report
Conflict Armament Research, a group that reports on the use of weapons and their supply chains, said that the Iran-backed group are shipping in a range of components from a Chinese supplier to make a version of Iran's Kheibar Shekan missile.
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group → report → missile
But the Houthi version, under its current design, would have a range of 1,200 miles – 300 more than Iranian variants – which puts all of Saudi Arabia and Israel within reach of Yemen.
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which → have → Yemen
Iran used the Kheibar Shekan missile against US bases during the war with the US last spring.
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Iran → use → US
The weapons are known for being cheap, mobile and very precise.
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weapons → know → ?
They are known for being more effective than other Iranian weapons as it can manoeuvre out of the way of missile defences.
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it → know → defences
In some variants, the warhead detaches during the final phase of flight and uses a small engine to make adjustments to its speed and direction, giving it the ability to soar into a target at up to 6,000 miles per hour.
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warhead → detach → hour
The report was based on information from Yemeni government authorities who seized two shipments last year that had Chinese missile equipment hidden inside.
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that → base → equipment
It is not currently clear how far along the production process the Houthis are as their weapons facilities are well-disguised.
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facilities → disguise → process
Houthis launch mortar attacks on Saudi-backed forces in the desert
The wreckage of the aircraft at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia following a Houthi attack
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Houthis → launch → attack
Though the Houthis have long been designated a terrorist organisation, they have forged deeper relationships with China and other suppliers.
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they → designate → China
According to the UN and data collected by arms experts, Chinese companies are now the biggest source of seized goods bound for the Houthis.
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companies → accord → Houthis
Most of the Houthis' US-sanctioned drone parts suppliers are based in China.
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Most → sanction → China
Henry Thompson, a former expert on the UN's Yemen sanctions panel, told the Wall Street Journal that he believes the Chinese have been sending components for solid-fuel ballistic missiles for at least two years.
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Chinese → tell → years
With these, 'the Houthis can reach deep into Saudi Arabia with a bigger payload than cruise missiles and drones,' he said, adding: 'They are going to be a more potent threat.'
Overnight, Houthi rebels hit the headquarters of the Saudi state-owned oil company Aramco, damaging the offices of the firm's chief executive and other top officials.
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rebels → reach → executive
The strike, in the eastern Saudi Arabian city of Dhahran, was the latest demonstration of the Houthis' ability to attack high-profile targets.
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strike → attack → targets
There were no casualties in the attack, which the officials said damaged the building's top three floors.
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officials → be → floors
An Iran-made Kheibar Shekan missile is exhibited during a rally that marks the 46th anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution in Tehran, Iran, on February 10, 2025
Houthi supporters shout slogans during a protest against Saudi Arabia, in Sana'a, Yemen, October 9 2026
The Houthis had warned earlier they were targeting Dhahran with a ballistic missile.
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they → make → missile
Late Wednesday evening, Houthi-run broadcaster al-Masirah reported strikes on the capital Sanaa, blaming Saudi Arabia.
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Masirah → report → Arabia
The Saudi coalition has not commented on the strikes.
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coalition → comment → strikes
The sight of smoke rising from some of Saudi Arabia's most sensitive facilities in recent days has rattled the region and global markets while increasing questions for US President Donald Trump, who has said he's evaluating whether the US should join Saudi strikes against the Houthis in the latest front in the Iran war.
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US → rise → war
The Saudi energy ministry reported a 'limited fire' at the Aramco building Tuesday night.
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ministry → report → building
Aramco didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Aramco → respond → comment
On Wednesday, Saudi civil defence authorities in the capital, Riyadh, said debris from an intercepted strike had left one person injured.
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debris → say → person
Images showed a damaged building and a vehicle with a large cylindrical object, seemingly part of a missile, lodged in its hood.
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Images → show → hood
The Saudi-led coalition said that it had intercepted two Houthi drones, four cruise missiles and one ballistic missile targeting Riyadh, a ballistic missile targeting Dhahran and a cruise missile targeting Al-Kharj, a key military and industrial city.
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it → lead → Al
Alerts for incoming missiles were also sounded around Riyadh, though details weren't immediately clear.
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details → sound → Riyadh
The Houthis called the attacks retaliation for 'treacherous Saudi aggression' against Sanaa, the rebel-held Yemeni capital, and other areas, as the kingdom backs the forces of neighbouring Yemen's internationally recognized government in a major military offensive launched a week and a half ago.
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kingdom → call → offensive
The rebel-run Health Ministry reported two dead in attacks in Yemen on Tuesday and blamed the Saudis.
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Ministry → run → Saudis
The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi airports, military facilities and oil infrastructure.
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Houthis → target → airports
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has been targeted multiple times in the past week with strikes that have killed at least 18 people and wounded more than 300 others, greatly affecting aviation across the kingdom.
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that → target → kingdom
Houthi soldiers stand guard during a protest against Saudi Arabia, in Sana'a, Yemen, October 9 2026
The wreckage of the Saudia Airlines plane at King Khalid International following an attack on Thursday
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soldiers → stand → Thursday
The Houthis, hardened by years of civil war, have emerged as Iran's most effective armed proxy of the moment but experts say they also have their own agenda.
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they → harden → agenda
Either way, they are applying increasing pressure on a key US ally.
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they → apply → ally
There has been an 'unprecedented surge' in combat casualties along Yemen's front lines, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, particularly in the city of Marib, along the Red Sea coast and the besieged city of Taiz, where the World Food Programme says it can no longer reach more than 600,000 people who depend on aid.
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who → accord → aid
Main roads leading into Yemen's third-largest city have been closed amid rebel attacks, with regular clashes on the outskirts and overnight bombardment.
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roads → lead → outskirts
Residents are increasingly worried about dwindling supplies of fuel and food.
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Residents → dwindle → fuel
A Taiz resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity fearing the Houthis could seize the city, said that long lines now form outside shops, and public transportation has become increasingly scarce because of fuel shortages.
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transportation → speak → shortages
The sound of loud explosions keeps her awake at night, she said in a telephone interview, adding that downtown Taiz hasn't been shelled.
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Taiz → keep → interview
On Wednesday, schools in Taiz were ordered closed for a month.
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schools → order → month
…and 24 more, not listed.
The Aporia
