AGP Executive Report

AI & Security: Anthropic’s latest report warns that AI misuse is moving beyond propaganda into weapons development, surveillance and target selection. A related analysis points to a weapons-development cell in northern Yemen, raising concerns about how AI could amplify threats. Drone Technology: Shabwa’s deputy governor alleges the Houthis have supplied drone technology to groups including al-Qaeda and ISIS; the claim has not been independently verified. Yemen Health Research: A new study examines whether vitamin D status and Helicobacter pylori infection are linked to psychological distress among conflict-affected young people in Yemen.

Drone Technology: Shabwa’s deputy governor alleged that the Houthis have helped terrorist groups obtain drone technology. The claim followed a missile strike on a training camp that killed 73 recruits; it has not been independently verified. Missile Supply Chains: Reports this week examined Chinese-linked components in Houthi missile programs, gaps in export controls and the group’s expanding weapons production. Together, they highlight how imported parts and technical know-how may be boosting the Houthis’ military capabilities. AI and Warfare: Coverage also explored reported Houthi use of AI tools, including Claude, in attacks—though details remain limited.

Missile & Drone Tactics: The Houthis are reportedly combining different types of strikes and targeting places with weaker Saudi air defenses. ISW cites an unnamed US official, but says it is unclear whether the tactics came from Iran. Weapons Supply: Investigators say the Houthis are pursuing medium-range ballistic missiles using components linked to a Chinese supplier, raising questions about foreign supply chains and Yemen’s growing weapons-making capacity. Tech Investment: Saudi Arabia has postponed its Future Investment Initiative until 2027 amid attacks. The event promotes investment in sectors including technology.

Shabwa Attack: A Houthi missile strike on a government security forces training camp in Shabwa killed 53 people and wounded at least 200, according to local authorities. Missile Supply Claims: Investigators reportedly traced intercepted equipment and components intended for Houthi missile programs to Chinese suppliers; China’s envoy rejected the allegations, citing export controls and offering to investigate information shared by Yemen’s government.

Yemen’s Weapons Technology: Reports say the Houthis are seeking Chinese-linked components for advanced ballistic missiles, while expanding domestic weapons production. The claims highlight how component supply chains could shape Yemen’s military capabilities. Health Research: A survey of 465 novice nurses across six Middle Eastern countries, including Yemen, points to gaps in psychological first-aid knowledge—underscoring the need for better training in conflict-affected health systems.

Missile Technology: Investigators say intercepted shipments bound for Yemen’s Houthis included custom missile parts, raw materials, tools and testing equipment linked to a Chinese supplier. The group is reportedly seeking to produce components of Iran’s Khaibar Shekan missile domestically, which has a range exceeding 1,000 kilometres. Supply Routes: A coalition says it has stopped a separate weapons-smuggling attempt at sea bound for Hodeidah, highlighting efforts to disrupt the supplies that support Houthi arms production.

Digital Links: An Iraqi initiative unveiled at the OIC foreign ministers’ meeting would connect member states’ energy grids, transport networks and digital communications, and develop digital payments and trade platforms. Missile Technology: A research group says shipments bound for the Houthis contained custom missile parts, tools and testing equipment, with documents naming a Chinese supplier. It says the group is seeking to produce parts of an Iranian-designed missile domestically, potentially extending its reach beyond 1,000 kilometres. AI and Weapons: Separate reports allege the Houthis used Anthropic’s Claude AI to help develop missile software and test a guided rocket, highlighting growing scrutiny of how AI tools may be used in conflict.

Missile Technology: A Conflict Armament Research investigation says Houthi forces are assembling advanced ballistic missiles using purpose-built components linked to a Chinese supplier, pointing to a broader effort to build weapons locally. AI and Weapons: Reports say a Houthi-linked group used Anthropic’s Claude to help develop guided-weapons software, raising questions about how easily AI tools can be adapted for military use. Health Research: A study based on interviews with 25 people in Aden documents why COVID-19 prevention and care were difficult amid damaged hospitals, unpaid health workers and low trust in institutions.

Health Research: A new study based on interviews in Aden examines why people struggled to prevent COVID-19 and seek care, pointing to damaged services, financial barriers and eroded trust. Weapons Technology: Conflict Armament Research says shipping records and recovered components suggest the Houthis are trying to build medium-range missiles locally using parts from a Chinese supplier. AI and Security: Reports say a Houthi cell used Anthropic’s Claude to help develop guided-weapons software, raising concerns about AI’s use in weapons development.

Aden Strike: A Houthi missile-and-drone attack on the presidential complex killed five people and injured 16; Yemen’s prime minister and cabinet were safe. The group said it targeted a military operations center, while casualties included security staff and civilian employees. Missile Technology: A new investigation alleges the Houthis are trying to build medium-range ballistic missiles using components shipped from China, with gaps in export controls helping parts reach Yemen. Analysts say local production could make the group less reliant on imported weapons. Red Sea Research: Yemen joined six other countries in a regional fisheries initiative to improve data systems, monitoring and cooperation as overfishing and climate change pressure fish stocks.

Missile Threat: Houthi missiles struck Aden’s presidential compound on Thursday, killing at least five people. Saudi-led coalition figures say attacks on Saudi airports have killed 19 and injured 364 since October 1. Weapons Research: Conflict Armament Research reports the Houthis are seeking to build advanced ballistic-missile components in Yemen using parts traced to Chinese suppliers, as their weapons procurement networks expand. AI and Guidance: Anthropic reportedly acknowledged that the Houthis used its Claude AI to help develop guided weapons capable of correcting course, sharpening concerns over AI safeguards and military use.

Missile Development: A new report says the Houthis are seeking to build a medium-range ballistic missile using components from Chinese shipments seized in Yemen. The weapon could reach Saudi Arabia and Israel, but it is unclear whether production has succeeded. AI in Weapons: Anthropic says a suspected weapons-development group in northern Yemen tried to use its Claude model for ballistic-missile work; reports also allege AI helped with missile software and testing. Air Defence: Saudi forces say they intercepted missiles and drones targeting the kingdom, but debris caused injuries and damage. The attacks highlight the challenge of defending against different aerial threats at once.

Missile Technology: Yemeni authorities say they discussed with Beijing concerns that Chinese-made components may be reaching Houthi weapons programs. A Conflict Armament Research report says two shipments intercepted last year contained specialized parts that could support a locally assembled, Iran-style missile with a potential range of about 2,000 kilometres. The group’s ability to produce such a weapon remains uncertain. AI and Weapons: Separate reports say the Houthis used Anthropic’s Claude to help develop guided-missile software, highlighting how commercial AI tools may be repurposed for weapons development.

Missile Technology: A new report says the Houthis are trying to build a medium-range ballistic missile modeled on Iran’s Kheibar Shekan, using components traced to a Chinese supplier. Seized shipments reportedly included motor and airframe parts, fins and heat-resistant materials; the missile could reach targets across Saudi Arabia and Israel. AI and Weapons: Separate reports say the Houthis used Anthropic’s Claude to help develop guided-missile software and test a rocket, raising concerns about AI’s role in weapons development. Health Access: In Sanaa, conjoined newborn twins need specialist surgery unavailable in Yemen. Limited flights and shortages of medical equipment are complicating efforts to get them treatment abroad. Energy Infrastructure: A Houthi strike hit an administrative building at Aramco’s Dhahran complex, a major hub for oil and gas operations and research, starting a fire but causing no reported casualties.

Critical Infrastructure: A Houthi missile strike on a Saudi Aramco operations building in Dhahran caused a limited fire, Saudi officials said. The attack has renewed concerns over the vulnerability of energy facilities and pushed oil prices higher. AI in Weapons Development: Anthropic says a Houthi-linked group used its Claude Code tool to help develop guided rockets and missiles, including writing control software and running simulations. The reported activity took place from December 2025 to August 2026. Drone Warfare: A new analysis of Yemen’s conflict describes wider use of drones for surveillance, strikes and battle footage. Since August, it has also identified signs of fiber-optic-guided drones and multirotor craft capable of dropping munitions.

AI and Weapons: Anthropic says Yemen-based actors used its Claude AI to develop guidance and navigation software for missiles and rockets. A guided rocket test appeared to fail, and the company reported no confirmed operational weapon. Digital Infrastructure: Iran’s warning that regional data centres and cables could be targeted has renewed concern over Yemen’s Bab al-Mandab strait, a key passage for internet traffic. Fighting near the Red Sea coast could put Europe–Asia data links at risk.