Expansion of military support scale
According to information published by the WSJ, Iran actively assisted the Houthis in targeting oil tankers, energy infrastructure, and airports in Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones. Sources familiar with Saudi intelligence materials and the Yemeni alliance opposing the Houthis claim that this assistance enabled the group to carry out some of the most complex and powerful attacks in the history of the conflict.
Support from Tehran went beyond the mere supply of weapons. Iran provided intelligence information, assisted in targeting munitions, and facilitated the refinement of the Houthis' combat tactics.
Strategic implications for the region
This cooperation contributed to the Houthis' offensive, enabling them to rapidly seize territories in Yemen. Currently, the militants control part of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait coastline, a critically important maritime route for Saudi oil exports.
Among the documented attacks is a strike on Riyadh over the weekend, which resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people. Military cooperation with the Houthis allows Tehran to increase pressure on its regional rivals through allied armed groups. This, in turn, complicates the efforts of US President Donald Trump and his partners from the Persian Gulf countries, who seek to end the war with Iran on terms favourable to themselves.
Expert assessment
«Зв'язок на оперативному рівні дуже, дуже міцний» (The operational-level link is very, very strong), emphasised Danny Citronovich, former head of the Iranian division of Israeli military intelligence.
According to him, Iran is interested in the Houthis' successes, as their actions harm Saudi Arabia and may cause oil prices to rise. The expert stresses that this is not simply a relationship between a patron and a dependent group, but a strategic partnership.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!