Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanon’s Hizbullah are reportedly assisting the Houthi rebels in Yemen with attacks on Red Sea shipping. According to sources, Iran has increased weapon supplies to the Houthis, including advanced drones and missiles, following the October 7 terrorist attacks by the Iranian-backed armed group Hamas on communities in southern Israel. IRGC commanders and advisers are said to be on the ground in Yemen, providing intelligence to target vessels bound for Israel.
The US last month accused Iran of being deeply involved in Red Sea operations, with Iranian intelligence crucial for the Houthis’ targeting capabilities. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has denied Tehran’s involvement in these attacks. Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam also denied any Iranian or Hizbullah involvement.
The Houthis, another Iran-backed armed group opposing Saudi Arabia’s influence in Yemen, have been targeting commercial vessels to support Hamas and have impacted global shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This has led to US and British airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, escalating the conflict.
An Iranian insider revealed that Houthi fighters received military training in Iran. The Houthis assert that their actions, including targeting Israeli ships, are independent decisions, although a security official close to Iran acknowledged Tehran’s advisory role. Iran has historically supported the Houthis as part of its “Axis of Resistance” against Western and Israeli interests. The conflict in Yemen has intensified since the 2011 Arab Spring, with the Houthis seizing control of northern Yemen and the capital Sanaa.