Iran has flown Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, military advisers, and missile- and drone-related equipment into Yemen, according to four sources. This move suggests Tehran is seeking to strengthen the ability of its Houthi allies to threaten Red Sea shipping.

Details of the Flight

The flight, which took place on July 13, was originally bound for the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa but diverted to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah after the airport came under attack by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. The plane carried between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, as well as gold to fund Houthi activities.

The deployment offers fresh evidence of Iran’s efforts to bolster the Houthis, who have been in a civil war against the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized Yemeni government for more than a decade and have attacked Gulf neighbors with missiles and drones.

Response from Officials

Moammar al-Iryani, information minister in Yemen’s Saudi-backed government, confirmed the transfers of Guards personnel and equipment, citing intelligence. Mzahem Alsaloum, a security and intelligence analyst, also confirmed the IRGC experts’ arrival on the July 13 flight.

The Houthis had announced direct flights between Sanaa and Tehran earlier this month, saying the service would help break what they described as a Saudi-imposed blockade on Yemen.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.