A confidential report by U.N. sanctions monitors reveals that Yemen's Houthi rebels have transformed into a powerful military organization with the assistance of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Lebanon's Hezbollah, and Iraqi specialists. The experts found evidence of Houthi fighters receiving training outside Yemen, traveling on fake passports to Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq.
Over the past year, the Houthis have carried out drone and missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea, disrupting global maritime trade and showing solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza conflict. The U.N. experts noted that the Houthis lack the capability to develop complex weapon systems without external support.
The report highlights the unprecedented level of military support, including financial aid and training, provided to the Houthis from foreign sources. The weapons systems used by the rebels resemble those operated by Iran and its allies in the Middle East.
The U.N. experts raised concerns about the growing collaboration between the Houthis and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as the smuggling of small arms and light weapons between the rebels and other militant groups.
Iran has denied supplying weapons to the Houthis, despite the evidence presented in the report. The sanctions monitors also highlighted the use of fake passports by the rebels to facilitate illicit activities and military training abroad.
In conclusion, the report sheds light on the external support that has enabled the Houthi rebels to strengthen their military capabilities and pose a threat to regional stability. The findings have implications for global security and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, underscoring the need for international cooperation to address the challenges posed by armed groups in the region.