India, Oct. 15 -- Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels are seeking Chinese-made components to develop an advanced ballistic missile system that could improve their ability to strike targets in Saudi Arabia and Israel, according to a new report by Conflict Armament Research (CAR).

The report, released on Wednesday, October 14, said two shipments containing suspected missile components had been intercepted by Yemeni authorities. The equipment originated in China and was intended for delivery to Hodeidah, a port in Yemen controlled by the Houthis, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Researchers said the parts could help the group build a missile similar to Iran's Kheibar Shekan, a precision-guided ballistic missile with a reported range o...