Exclusive: Houthis Expect Imminent Airstrikes on Sanaa and Adopt New Missile Deployment Tactics

     The Houthis have raised their military readiness in the Yemeni capital amid expectations that their camps and strategic positions could face imminent airstrikes, military sources told Sheba Intelligence.

According to the sources, the group has deployed an air-defense system on Mount Aiban, one of the most prominent highlands overlooking Sanaa. The deployment is believed to be aimed at strengthening air-defense coverage around the capital and protecting sensitive military and command sites.

The move reflects growing concern within the group that the ongoing air campaign could expand to include additional targets inside Sanaa, particularly military camps, command facilities, weapons depots, and sites linked to missile and drone operations.

Separately, Sheba Intelligence has obtained information indicating that the Houthis have developed a new tactic for concealing and deploying missile and drone launch platforms in an attempt to reduce their exposure to aerial surveillance and pre-emptive strikes.

Under the new tactic, missile and drone launchers are reportedly hidden inside tunnels, houses, and other concealed facilities. Shortly before an attack, the platforms are moved to launch points located approximately one kilometer from their storage sites.

After the missiles or drones are launched, the platforms are quickly returned to the tunnels or buildings where they had been concealed.

The tactic appears designed to limit the amount of time the launch platforms remain exposed in open areas, making it more difficult for reconnaissance aircraft, drones, or satellites to track and target them.

It may also complicate efforts to identify the Houthis’ permanent missile and drone storage locations, particularly as the group increasingly relies on civilian areas and underground facilities to protect its military assets.

The new defensive and operational measures come amid a broader military escalation in Yemen and intensified airstrikes targeting Houthi missile, drone, and command infrastructure in several governorates.

Sheba Intelligence could not independently verify the exact type of air-defense system reportedly deployed on Mount Aiban or determine whether it has become fully operational.