Sana’a — The Yemeni government has issued a serious accusation against the Houthi rebel group, alleging that it is attempting to manufacture chemical weapons with direct support from Iranian experts. 

The claim marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict and raises alarm over the potential introduction of internationally banned weapons into the war-torn country.

According to Information Minister Moammar Eryani, intelligence reports indicate that the Houthis have established a covert facility for producing toxic substances intended for use in ballistic missiles and long-range drones.

“The introduction of chemical weapons into the Houthis’ arsenal goes beyond the traditional threat posed by missiles and drones,” Eryani told The National, urging international bodies to investigate the matter.

The allegations follow the interception of a large weapons shipment reportedly smuggled from Iran, which included chemical precursors disguised as industrial equipment. Yemeni forces, in coordination with regional partners, seized the cargo earlier this year, revealing complex smuggling routes involving Djibouti, Somalia, and Iranian ports.

Sources within the Yemeni presidency confirmed that a confidential report detailing suspected chemical weapons sites has been submitted for review. The government is now calling on the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to take urgent action.

Iran has not officially responded to the accusations, but the claims are likely to intensify scrutiny of Tehran’s role in the Yemeni conflict and its broader regional alliances.

The Houthis, who control large swaths of northern Yemen including the capital Sana’a, have previously expanded their arsenal with Iranian-supplied drones and missiles. If verified, the development of chemical weapons would represent a grave violation of international law and a dangerous shift in the nature of the conflict.