Maruan Soto Antaki

This is interesting and important. On the one hand, it is another indication that the members of the Axis of Resistance have diversified their external partnerships beyond #Iran, and that other revisionist powers, especially Russia and China, are also involved. Chinese involvement, which has been important in the development of Iran's own military capabilities, also seems to be playing an important role in the development of Houthi capabilities now. On the other hand, this represents a very interesting division of labor: key components come from China, technology comes from Iran, and the missiles are then built in Yemen. This can make detection, interception, and confiscation more difficult. But it also says something about the changing pattern of Iran's security assistance. For a long time, Iran was quite selective in exporting its military technology to different partners. Hezbollah occupied a central position in Iranian strategy and always received the most advanced technology. Now, however, this is another indication that the Houthis have, to some extent, replaced Hezbollah in terms of their importance to Iran, to the point that Tehran is now exporting some of its most advanced capabilities to the Houthis.