Senior Houthi leaders openly credit Tehran for their missile program as the Iran-backed group intensifies regional attacks.
A senior Houthi official has openly acknowledged that Iran’s regime provided the foundation of the group’s missile technology, underlining Tehran’s decisive role in strengthening the Houthis as a regional military proxy.
Ahmed al-Ali, a member of the Houthis’ Shura Council, told Iranian state media on August 29 that the group had “no hesitation” in confirming it had acquired its “principle of missile technology” from the Iranian regime.
He praised Tehran’s support, stating that the Houthis had “made the best use of the Islamic Republic’s experience.”
Al-Ali further declared that the Iranian regime remains “at the forefront and leading the axis of resistance,” a term Tehran uses for the network of militias and armed factions it backs across the Middle East, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, and the Houthis themselves.
During a previous trip to Tehran in October 2024, Al-Ali made clear that the Houthis’ long-term goal is aligned with Iran’s regional agenda.
The Houthis’ arsenal has expanded rapidly in recent years, now including ballistic missiles and drones with extended ranges.
Their use of cluster munitions—highly destructive and banned by many international conventions—has raised alarm about escalating humanitarian and security risks.
These weapons are designed to cause wide-scale damage, complicating cleanup efforts and amplifying civilian harm.
The Iranian regime’s support has emboldened the Houthis to expand their military campaign far beyond Yemen’s borders. Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in late 2024, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted commercial and naval traffic in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
Their attacks have also extended into the Indian Ocean, threatening global shipping routes and undermining maritime security.
The Houthis have suffered heavy blows in recent weeks, with several senior officials reportedly killed in targeted strikes. Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthis’ Supreme Political Council, confirmed on August 30that Prime Minister Ahmed Ghalib al-Rahwi and several ministers were killed in a major attack on a building in Sanaa. Reports suggest the strike may have eliminated much of the Houthis’ political leadership.
Despite these losses, the Houthis continue to portray themselves as part of Tehran’s broader network of regional proxies, coordinated under the banner of the so-called “axis of resistance.”
Their admission of direct dependence on Iranian missile expertise highlights the extent of Tehran’s role in arming and directing its allied militias, further destabilizing the Middle East and threatening international security.
