Iranian and Hezbollah commanders are reportedly assisting Houthi rebels in Yemen in directing and overseeing attacks on Red Sea shipping, according to sources.
These sources, which include four regional and two Iranian sources, claim that Iran has increased its weapons supplies to the Houthis following the outbreak of the war in Gaza. Tehran is said to have provided the rebels with advanced drones, anti-ship cruise missiles, precision-strike ballistic missiles, and medium-range missiles. In addition to weapons, Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders and advisers are allegedly providing the Houthis with know-how, data, and intelligence support to identify and target vessels destined for Israel.
The attacks on Red Sea shipping have disrupted global maritime activity, affecting trade between Asia and Europe through the Bab al-Mandab strait off Yemen. The United States and the United Kingdom have responded with airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. The involvement of Iran and Hezbollah in the conflict in Yemen is seen as part of Iran's strategy to expand its regional influence and project its ability to threaten maritime security.
The Houthis, who emerged in the 1980s as an armed group opposing Saudi Arabia's Sunni religious influence in Yemen, claim that they are supporting Hamas by targeting commercial ships linked to Israel or heading to Israeli ports. Iran has denied any involvement in the Red Sea attacks, but Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has praised the Houthis and expressed hope that their strikes will continue until victory.
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