The attack on the air base in the southern al-Anad area on Thursday reportedly wounded dozens of military personnel, including the Yemeni army chief of staff.
Saudi-owned Al Arabiya news channel reported that five people were killed in the raid.
Abdul Malik Al-Houthi, leader of the Houthi group, announced the strategy of using ballistic missiles and drones in 2017. The group is at war with a Saudi-UAE-led coalition which began its military campaign in Yemen in March 2015, after the Houthis overran the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.
The Houthis claim to possess five different drone models according to an infographic on their official Telegram channel.
In November, the rebels said they were halting drone and missile attacks, but tensions have risen recently over how to implement a UN-sponsored peace deal.
Related: The National - Yemen says Iran is arming Houthis with drones to attack Saudi Arabia