2014 Yemen Civil War

Qaher-M2 ballistic missile in the 2014 Yemen Civil War

Houthi-aligned forces used the Qaher-M2, also rendered Qaher-2M, as an improved SA-2-derived land-attack missile for cross-border strikes on Saudi targets during the 2014 Yemen Civil War.

Weapon profileQaher-M2 ballistic missile
SideHouthi-aligned forcesRoleLong-Range Strike
Qaher-M2 ballistic missile, Short-range ballistic missile, Artillery - 2014 Yemen Civil War
Image source: Great Prophet IV (26).jpg

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
Houthi-aligned forces fielded Qaher-M2 as an improved Qaher-family land-attack missile in the 2014 Yemen Civil War.

Sources: The Missile War in Yemen, Countering Iran's Missile Proliferation in Yemen

Qaher-M2 was derived from SA-2/S-75-family V-755 surface-to-air missile stocks and reported with a 400 km range and 350 kg warhead.

Sources: The Missile War in Yemen, A peek inside Houthi Rebel's recent missile strikes in Saudi Arabia

A March 28, 2017 attack involved Qaher-M2 missiles and a multi-missile salvo aimed at the Khamis Mushait area.

Sources: Countering Iran's Missile Proliferation in Yemen, The Missile War in Yemen

Qaher-M2 launches toward Najran were reported and intercepted in January 2018.

Sources: Saudi Air Defenses Intercept Houthi Missile Targeting Najran, Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Missile Targeting Najran, Saudis intercept Houthi missile near Yemen border

A Qaher-2M was reported used against Abha Regional Airport during the March 2018 seven-missile attack into Saudi Arabia.

Sources: A peek inside Houthi Rebel's recent missile strikes in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia/Yemen: Houthi Missile Attacks Unlawful

Timeline

Qaher-M2 ballistic missile In 2014 Yemen Civil War

  1. Missile conversion effort organized

    CSIS reports that the Houthis established a missile force and MRDC-linked research division that converted V-755 surface-to-air missiles into Qaher-family unguided land-attack rockets.

    Sources: The Missile War in Yemen

  2. Qaher-M2 first reported in attack

    The Washington Institute identified a March 28, 2017 attack as involving Qaher-M2 missiles with longer claimed range and a heavier warhead than Qaher-1.

    Sources: Countering Iran's Missile Proliferation in Yemen, The Missile War in Yemen

  3. Khamis Mushait claim

    Houthi-aligned SABA reported that three Qaher-M2 missiles hit three military targets at King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait.

    Sources: Yemen's ballistic missiles arsenal designed to deter enemy attack

  4. Najran missile intercepted

    CSIS Missile Threat reported that Saudi air defenses intercepted a Qaher-M2 short-range ballistic missile targeting Najran, with Houthi militants saying the target was a coalition military camp.

    Sources: Saudi Air Defenses Intercept Houthi Missile Targeting Najran, Saudis intercept Houthi missile near Yemen border

  5. Second Najran interception reported

    CSIS Missile Threat reported another Qaher-M2 launched by Houthi rebels toward Najran and destroyed by Patriot interceptors, with minor property damage from falling debris and no reported casualties.

    Sources: Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Missile Targeting Najran

  6. Qaher-2M reported in Abha attack

    FDD's Long War Journal and Human Rights Watch described Houthi-aligned reporting that a Qaher-2M was used against Abha Regional Airport during a wider missile attack into Saudi Arabia.

    Sources: A peek inside Houthi Rebel's recent missile strikes in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia/Yemen: Houthi Missile Attacks Unlawful

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

Qaher-M2 use in the 2014 Yemen Civil War is documented in specialist missile reporting, Houthi-aligned claims, Saudi interception reporting, and humanitarian monitoring of missile attacks into Saudi Arabia. CSIS describes Qaher-M2 as the improved member of the Qaher line, a Houthi conversion of Yemeni V-755 surface-to-air missile stocks into unguided land-attack rockets, and reports that the Houthis first fired the upgraded version in March 2017.

The Washington Institute identifies a March 28, 2017 attack as involving Qaher-M2 missiles with a claimed 400 km range and 350 kg warhead, and says the same attack used a multi-missile salvo in an apparent attempt to overwhelm Patriot batteries at Khamis Mushait. Later reporting records Qaher-M2 or Qaher-2M launches toward Najran and Abha during the continuing cross-border missile campaign.

Sources: The Missile War in Yemen, Countering Iran's Missile Proliferation in Yemen, Saudi Air Defenses Intercept Houthi Missile Targeting Najran, A peek inside Houthi Rebel's recent missile strikes in Saudi Arabia

Timeline

The Qaher-M2 appeared after earlier Qaher-1 use had already established the converted-missile role. CSIS traces the line to a Houthi missile force and Missile Research and Development Center effort that converted around 200 V-755 missiles into unguided land-attack rockets; Qaher-1 was fielded in late 2015, and Qaher-M2 followed as the longer-range variant.

Publicly reported launches cluster in 2017 and early 2018. Houthi-aligned SABA claimed that three Qaher-M2 missiles struck targets at King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait in 2017. CSIS Missile Threat reported Qaher-M2 interceptions over Najran on January 5 and January 11, 2018. In March 2018, FDD's Long War Journal and Human Rights Watch both described Houthi-aligned reporting that a Qaher-2M was used against Abha Regional Airport during a wider seven-missile attack into Saudi Arabia.

Sources: The Missile War in Yemen, Yemen's ballistic missiles arsenal designed to deter enemy attack, Saudi Air Defenses Intercept Houthi Missile Targeting Najran, Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Missile Targeting Najran, A peek inside Houthi Rebel's recent missile strikes in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia/Yemen: Houthi Missile Attacks Unlawful

Narrative

In Yemen-war service, the Qaher-M2 was a Houthi-aligned long-range strike weapon rather than an air-defense missile. The system reused SA-2/S-75-family missile bodies that had limited value against coalition aircraft, converting them into surface-to-surface weapons for attacks on Saudi border cities, military sites, and airports.

The documented operator was the Houthi-aligned Yemeni Army and Popular Committees or Houthi-Saleh/Houthi forces, depending on the source and date. The targets named in public reporting included King Khalid Air Base near Khamis Mushait, military sites around Najran, and Abha Regional Airport in Asir province. Some reports describe Saudi Patriot interceptions and debris effects, while Houthi-aligned outlets claimed successful impacts.

The evidence is strongest for fielding and launch claims, not for independent battle-damage assessment from each missile. CSIS and the Washington Institute support the Qaher-M2 lineage, first reported use, and cross-border role; CSIS Missile Threat and Al Jazeera document Najran launch and interception reporting; FDD and Human Rights Watch connect Qaher-2M to the March 2018 Abha airport attack. The Houthi-aligned SABA account is useful for the movement's own development and target claims, but it is treated here as a party claim rather than independent confirmation of impact.

Sources: The Missile War in Yemen, Countering Iran's Missile Proliferation in Yemen, Saudi Air Defenses Intercept Houthi Missile Targeting Najran, Saudis intercept Houthi missile near Yemen border, A peek inside Houthi Rebel's recent missile strikes in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia/Yemen: Houthi Missile Attacks Unlawful, Yemen's ballistic missiles arsenal designed to deter enemy attack

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Sources