Houthis make ‘major leap’ building advanced missiles with greater Middle East range

Yemen's Houthi rebels have made significant advancements in producing sophisticated ballistic missiles, according to a report by Conflict Armament Research. The militia has successfully developed the Palestine-2 missile, which can maneuver rapidly during its terminal stage to evade defenses. This missile is capable of reaching speeds of 6,000 kilometers per hour, potentially evading Saudi Arabia's advanced defense systems.

This development is seen as a "major leap" in the Houthi's domestic production capabilities, particularly in the face of an intensified campaign against Saudi Arabia's critical infrastructure. The Houthi forces are reportedly sourcing specialized components for missile production from China, despite being under a UN arms embargo.

These components, discovered in cargo shipments from China, include parts for stabilizing fins and hypersonic flight equipment. The Palestine-2 variant of the missile has a range of 1,800 kilometers, making it capable of targeting much of the Middle East. While the group has not yet mastered the technology for the Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile, Iranian expertise is reportedly accelerating their progress, though scale remains a significant challenge.

Saudi Arabia's advanced defense system has intercepted 85-90% of the missiles launched by the Houthi rebels.