Reports from credible Middle Eastern news outlets indicate that American-made weapons are now in the possession of the Houthis, according to a report published by moderndiplomacy.eu.
The author of the report, Dr. Sahibzada M. Usman, found that the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in August 2021 marked the end of a two-decade-long war, but it also sowed the seeds of a dangerous security dilemma, adding, “Amid the chaotic and abrupt departure, billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment, ranging from small arms and tactical vehicles to advanced drones and communication systems, were left behind”.
Dr Usman mentioned that reports from credible Middle Eastern news outlets indicate that American-made weapons are now in the possession of the Houthi rebels, and considered “These revelations are deeply alarming, as they suggest a convergence of American military technology with one of the region’s most disruptive insurgent movements”.
Moreover, according to Dr. Usman, the possibility of reverse-engineering sensitive technology by foreign actors, including Iran, heightens the risk of proliferation on a global scale.
He concluded that “The sale of these arms to groups like the Houthis represents not just a security lapse but a fundamental challenge to the international arms control regime. This crisis underscores the urgent need for policy reform, robust end-use monitoring systems, and a rethink of military assistance strategies”.