Iran and Hezbollah Supported Houthis’ Ascendancy, According to UN Report – Reuters

By Michelle Nichols and John Irish

UNITED NATIONS – Yemen’s Houthi rebels have evolved “from a localized armed group with limited capabilities to a powerful military organization,” with assistance from Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hezbollah from Lebanon, and specialists from Iraq, according to a confidential report by U.N. sanctions monitors.

This independent panel, which reports annually to the U.N. Security Council, noted that Houthi fighters have been receiving tactical and technical training outside of Yemen, traveling on forged documents to Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq.

Over the past year, the Houthis have conducted numerous drone and missile strikes against vessels in the vital Red Sea shipping lanes, aiming to demonstrate support for Palestinians amid the Gaza war with Israel. This has disrupted global maritime trade, forcing shipping companies to reroute their cargo.

The U.N. experts highlighted that testimonies gathered from military professionals, Yemeni officials, and individuals close to the Houthis indicate that the group lacks the capability to develop and produce complex weapon systems without foreign assistance. They noted, “The scale, nature, and extent of transfers of diverse military material and technology provided to the Houthis from external sources, including financial support and training for its fighters, is unprecedented.”

The Houthis have yet to respond to requests for comment on the U.N. report. The sanctions monitors remarked that the weapon systems utilized by the Houthis resemble those produced and operated by Iran or armed factions of the Iran-aligned “Axis of Resistance,” which opposes Israel and U.S. influence in the region.

According to the U.N. experts, this transformation has resulted from the provision of military equipment, assistance, and training supplied by the IRGC-QF, Hezbollah, and Iraqi specialists to the Houthis. The Quds Force represents the overseas arm of the Revolutionary Guards.

The Iranian-supported “Axis of Resistance” has developed over many years and includes the Houthis, Palestinian militants such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and various armed groups from Iraq and Syria.

The Houthis have been subject to a U.N. arms embargo since 2015, and Iran has repeatedly denied allegations of supplying weapons to them. The Iranian mission to the U.N. has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the U.N. sanctions panel report.

During a recent U.N. meeting, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi expressed that his country supports Hezbollah, emphasizing that they would not remain indifferent should the conflict in Lebanon with Israel escalate.

The U.N. sanctions monitors also raised concerns about increasing collaboration between the Houthis and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. They reported, “Both groups have agreed to halt internal conflicts, exchange weapons, and coordinate attacks against the Yemeni government.” Additionally, there have been indications of growing smuggling activities involving small arms and light weapons between the Houthis and Al-Shabaab, suggesting potential shared military supplies or common sources of procurement.

Regarding the issue of counterfeit passports, the monitors stated that the Houthis issue these fraudulent documents to individuals who act on their behalf, providing support or operating under their control. These individuals are responsible for procuring and transferring illicit goods or weapons and may travel abroad to receive military training, as reported in the comprehensive document detailing these findings.