Sanaa, Yemen – After the Houthi armed group in Yemen launched attacks on government military camps and gatherings last week using one-way attack drones, it killed and injured dozens of government soldiers. But the internationally recognised Yemeni government was quick to retaliate by employing remotely operated drones to attack Houthi fighters on the front lines. That development is significant in Yemen’s decadelong conflict because it highlights the growing use of drones on the battlefield.
Government military units have repeatedly broadcast video footage showing drones tracking their targets, dropping bombs, killing fighters, destroying armoured vehicles and damaging hideouts. In September 2014, the Iran-backed Houthis captured the capital, Sanaa, and, amid weak military resistance, pushed deeper into other parts of Yemen. The Houthis’ dramatic rise to power left the government divided and fragile, and due to the threat from the rebels, many political leaders, including then-President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, fled Yemen for safety abroad, notably to Saudi Arabia.
For years, the Houthis were able to use drones as one of their most important weapons of asymmetric warfare. They were able to monitor their opponents and strike their gatherings, command centres and facilities far from the lines of contact while government forces were mostly in a position of defence and interception. However, forces affiliated with the government have announced in recent days the use of drones against Houthi positions in Marib, al-Jawf, Taiz, Hajjah, al-Dhalea and on other fronts and have released video of a number of those operations.
The Houthis have years of experience and a more advanced missile and drone infrastructure, but the government does not necessarily need full parity to bring about change on the battlefield. Drones have been a fundamental weapon for both sides since the outbreak of this conflict. However, they have vastly different levels of drone capabilities, experts said.
Bales said the Yemeni group has benefitted from Iranian technological assistance in addition to their experience in modifying and operating these systems themselves. Qasef drones were among the first unmanned aircraft added to the Houthi arsenal. They are similar to the Iranian-designed Ababil-T drones.
These drones are capable of carrying 30kg (66lb) warheads used in one-way attacks. The Sammad-3 drones have a range of about 1,500km (930 miles) and can be fitted with 18kg (40lb) of explosives, reports have shown. Since their takeover of Sanaa, the Houthis have diversified their arsenal of unmanned aircraft and missiles.
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