According to regional and Iranian sources cited by Portal, commanders from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Lebanon's Hezbollah are present in Yemen and are helping to direct and monitor Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Iran reportedly increased its arms supplies to the Houthis after October 7, including advanced drones, anti-ship cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.
These IRGC commanders and advisers would also provide information and intelligence to identify, among the many ships that transit the Red Sea daily, those destined for Israel and which could be targeted by the Houthis. According to one of the sources, Iranian commanders have set up a headquarters in Sanaa for the Red Sea attacks. Houthi attacks have impacted global shipping, including routes between Asia and Europe via the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and have led to US and British airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
According to an Iranian official quoted by Portal, the IRGC has helped the Houthis by providing them with military training. A group of Houthi fighters even traveled to Iran to receive training at a Revolutionary Guard base. Yemeni army sources confirm the presence of the IRGC and Hezbollah in Yemen, which are involved in monitoring military operations and assembling missiles.
Analysts say Tehran wants to show that prolonging the Gaza war could have catastrophic consequences for the West
Iran's goal would be to assert its influence and demonstrate its ability to threaten maritime security in the region and beyond. Analysts say Tehran wants to show that prolonging the Gaza war could have catastrophic consequences for the West and further destabilize the region.
Finally, Yemeni army sources confirm the apparent presence in Yemen of IRGC and Hezbollah members involved in monitoring military operations, training and assembling missiles smuggled in the form of spare parts.