Iran dispatched Revolutionary Guard commanders and military advisors to Yemen this month, along with components for missiles and drones, to bolster the Houthi militia's capabilities to threaten Red Sea navigation, according to four informed sources. The sources, including two Iranian individuals, the Yemeni Minister of Information, and a regional security analyst, stated that the shipment arrived on a Mahan Air flight departing from Tehran on July 13. The flight carried between 10 and 21 members of the Revolutionary Guard, comprising military leaders and specialized advisors. Tehran reportedly utilized the presence of a Houthi delegation on the same flight, who had attended the funeral of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, to facilitate the operation. According to the two Iranian sources, the aircraft was initially bound for Sanaa Airport but diverted to Hodeidah Port following airstrikes on the airport. One source indicated that the mission included training the Houthi militia on new missile systems and transferring gold to finance the group's activities, with both sources requesting anonymity due to security concerns. Yemen's internationally recognized government, through its Minister of Information, Muammar Al-Eryani, confirmed that intelligence indicates Iran has sent Revolutionary Guard personnel and military shipments to Houthi-controlled areas. Al-Eryani stated in a phone interview with Reuters on Wednesday that these actions are part of Iran's intensified military support for the militia. Security analyst Muzahim Al-Salloum corroborated that the shipment contained components for short- and medium-range missiles and drones, confirming the arrival of Revolutionary Guard experts. These revelations emerge amidst ongoing international condemnation of Iran for allegedly supplying the Houthi militia with military and logistical support, which the United States and the Yemeni government assert has enhanced the group's missile and drone capabilities and posed a threat to international shipping in the Red Sea. No immediate comment was available from Iran or the Houthi militia. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Ghaani had previously stated that the July 13 flight was designated for the return of a Houthi delegation that attended Supreme Leader Khamenei's funeral, as well as Yemeni citizens receiving medical treatment in Iran. This flight preceded the Houthis' announcement of escalated operations in the Red Sea and the imposition of what they termed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, a development that has heightened concerns over the security of a critical global trade artery. |
