Houthi Rebels Used Claude to Build Missile Software, Test-Firing 1 Failed Guided Rocket
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 11
Houthi Rebels Used Claude to Build Missile Software, Test-Firing 1 Failed Guided Rocket
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 11
Summary
Anthropic said militants in northern Yemen used its Claude coding tool in three weapons programs aimed at guided rockets, ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles.
The group used the AI to replace computer engineers on guidance, navigation and control software, while evading safeguards by masking their goals and splitting work across multiple sessions.
Many requests were blocked, but not all; the militants did not complete a weapon, though they test-fired one guided rocket that failed and then returned to Claude within hours to diagnose the problem.
The same threat report also flagged attempts to use Claude for bioweapons-related research, targeting U.S. Navy ships by Iranian-affiliated individuals, and a surveillance project tied to Mali's state intelligence service.