The escalation between the Ansar Allah Houthi movement and the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen is witnessing the use of ballistic missiles, drones, and warplanes.
The BBC fact-finding team analyzed data from the ACCL organization, which monitors conflicts, to identify the most prominent types of weapons reportedly used in strikes recorded since the beginning of the escalation.
These weapons include ballistic missiles with a range exceeding two thousand kilometers, attack and reconnaissance drones, and American and European-made combat aircraft.
What weapons do the Houthis use?
The Houthi arsenal includes a group of medium-range ballistic missiles, in addition to drones used in reconnaissance and attack missions, and their capabilities vary in terms of range, speed, and payload.
According to research reports, including a report by the American Century Foundation, some of the advanced missiles and drones owned by the Houthis are based on Iranian designs and are assembled locally from components, some of which come from Iran and others from different countries. But for its part, Iran denied arming the Houthis, and stressed that its support for them is only political.
The "Palestine 2" missile is one of the most prominent ballistic missiles in the Houthi arsenal. Its range is about 2,150 kilometers, and its declared speed is about 19,000 kilometers per hour, which, according to the Houthis, makes it a hypersonic missile. It can carry about 500 kilograms of explosives, and bears the name and map of Palestine, along with the inscription of the Palestinian keffiyeh.
Analysts believe that its capabilities are similar to those of Iranian Fateh missiles. According to several reports, the missile was used in strikes targeting the port of Mokha on the western coast of Yemen in August.
Among the other missiles used by the Houthis is the "Zulfiqar" missile, also known as "Burkan 3", which has a range of more than 1,200 kilometers and a speed of about six thousand kilometers per hour, and can carry about 250 kilograms of explosives. Military experts believe that it is a modified version of the Iranian Qiam missile.
ACLED data confirms that among the drones used by the Houthis is the short-range “Rajum” drone, which is a six-copter drone with a range of between 10 and 30 kilometers, a speed of between 200 and 250 kilometers per hour, and can carry about six mortar shells.
The movement’s arsenal also includes the “Samad 1” reconnaissance drone, which has a range of up to 500 kilometers and a speed of between 200 and 250 kilometers per hour. According to the Pentagon's Integrated Operational Data Network, the Houthis are likely able to modify it and equip it with a warhead, for use in "suicide" attacks, similar to other drones.
What weapons does Saudi Arabia use?
Saudi Arabia relies on its air force to carry out strikes inside Yemen, using American and European-made fighters, in addition to attack helicopters.
The most prominent of which is the American F-15 fighter, which is a twin-engine plane that reaches a speed of about three thousand kilometers per hour, and is equipped with an automatic cannon with an ammunition capacity of up to 940 rounds.
Saudi Arabia also uses European Eurofighter Typhoon fighters, which reach a speed of about 2,495 kilometers per hour, can cover a distance of up to 3,790 kilometers, and are used to bomb ground targets and other military missions.
Its arsenal also includes American Apache attack helicopters, which have a maximum speed during operations of about 330 kilometers per hour, a range of approximately 300 kilometers, and can be armed with up to 16 air-to-surface missiles, in addition to an automatic cannon with an ammunition capacity of up to 1,200 rounds.
Among the drones reportedly used in strikes inside Yemen is the “Sky Wasp” drone, which is manufactured by an American and a Saudi company. Its range reaches about 1,500 kilometers, and its speed ranges between 150 and 200 kilometers per hour.
According to ACLED data, this drone was used for the first time in Yemen on September 18, 2026.
According to the latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Saudi military spending on defense organizations reached about $83.2 billion during the year 2025, which places the Kingdom in eighth place in the world, and first in the Middle East region.
In its defense program, Riyadh relies on different systems from different countries, but the American THAAD and PATRIOT systems are considered among the most prominent defense systems that the Kingdom relies on.
