Does Houthis have Air Force?

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have indeed built up a significant arsenal, including cruise missiles and drones. Since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in 2022, the Iran-backed Houthis have carried out a spate of attacks in the Red Sea, claiming to be targeting ships with Israeli links in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Their military capabilities have been steadily developing since 2014 when they seized the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. Here are some key points about their military strength:

1. Ballistic Missiles:

The Houthis have ballistic missiles they call Typhoon, which is a rebranded version of the Iranian Qadr missile. It has a range of 1,600 to 1,900 kilometers and is capable of reaching Israel. They also possess Iran’s Quds cruise missile, with different versions having a range of about 1,650 kilometers—sufficient to reach Israel. In 2022, the Houthis used Quds 2 cruise missiles to hit oil facilities in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

2. Drones:

The Houthis claim to manufacture their drones domestically, but analysts believe they contain smuggled Iranian components. They operate the Iranian Shahed-136 drones, which Russia also uses in its war on Ukraine. These drones have a range of about 2,000 kilometers. Another drone model they use is the Samad-3, with an estimated range of about 1,600 kilometers.

3. Fast Jet Capability:

Recently, the Houthis restored a Northrop F-5 Tiger combat aircraft to flight, giving them fast jet capability for the first time since they ousted Yemen’s government in 2014.

4. Yemeni Air Force:

The Yemeni Air Force (part of the Yemeni Armed Forces) has been used extensively against the Houthi insurgency in Yemen. However, most of their air force was destroyed by airstrikes during the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen. Numbers of aircraft cannot be confirmed due to low serviceability. Aircraft were acquired through donations from countries supporting either the Soviet Union or the United States during the Cold War.

In summary, while their air force has been significantly impacted by airstrikes, the Houthis continue to pose a threat through their missile capabilities and drone attacks. The situation remains complex and volatile.