Exclusive: Houthi arsenal shocks the Pentagon's top weapons buyer

U.S. official says the Pentagon's top weapons buyer was shocked when he saw the arsenal of weapons the Iranian-backed Houthis had captured from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The weapons included American-made tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery pieces, as well as Russian-made air defense systems and Iranian-made drones.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the weapons were "a game-changer" and that they would force the U.S. to reassess its strategy in Yemen.

“The Houthis have been able to capture a significant amount of advanced weaponry from the Saudis and Emiratis,” the official said. “This includes American-made tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery pieces, as well as Russian-made air defense systems and Iranian-made drones.”

The official said the weapons were a “game-changer” and that they would force the U.S. to reassess its strategy in Yemen.

“The Houthis are now a much more formidable force than they were before,” the official said. “They have the ability to strike deep into Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and they could even pose a threat to U.S. forces in the region.”

The official said the U.S. was working with its allies to develop a new strategy to deal with the Houthis, but he warned that it would be a “difficult and complex” challenge.

“We need to find a way to help the Saudis and Emiratis defeat the Houthis without getting bogged down in a protracted conflict,” the official said. “This will be a difficult and complex challenge, but it is one that we must meet.”

The Houthis have been fighting a war against the Saudi-led coalition since 2015. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions more.

The U.S. has been providing logistical support to the Saudi-led coalition, but it has not been directly involved in the fighting.