While relative calm is maintained in the Strait of Hormuz – eyes are now directed to Bab al-Mandab: “the world’s bottleneck”. The Revolutionary Guards are behind the rapid advance of the Houthis – and the US is also increasing involvement • Report
The news in brief
- In recent days, the Houthi rebels captured the strategic port city of al-Muja.
- Reuters: Their progress along the shores of the Red Sea was made under the direct guidance of the Revolutionary Guards.
- Senior commanders in the Revolutionary Guards went to Yemen to monitor the attacks against Saudi Arabia.
- The reason: Iran wanted to open a new front in the war against the US
- The US is also increasing its involvement in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen
- More than 100 American military advisers are in Saudi Arabia providing intelligence and assistance in selecting targets.
All eyes on Bab al-Mandab: The conflict in Yemen recorded a dramatic escalation yesterday (Thursday) with direct consequences for the entire international arena. The military advance of the Houthis and the capture of the strategic port city of al-Mujah could play havoc with the critical Bab al-Mandab strait – the “global bottleneck”. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the rapid advance of the Houthi rebels along the shores of the Red Sea was made under the direct guidance of the Revolutionary Guards.
According to the report, Iran sought to open a new front in the war against the United States, and last week ordered the Houthis to increase attacks against Saudi Arabia. It promised them additional funding, weapons and senior officers to help them do so. Several senior Revolutionary Guard commanders have already traveled to Yemen to monitor and command the attacks against Saudi Arabia, after weeks of discussions on military strategy, according to a regional diplomat briefed by Tehran.
An Iranian source said that Iran held several meetings with its allies, including the Houthis, but the move to take over Mujah was a decision of the Houthis and not Iran. However, he added that the move helped Iran by putting pressure on oil prices and hurting the US and Saudi Arabia.
Inside Yemen, five government military sources said it was the Revolutionary Guards that directed the new Houthi campaign along the Red Sea coast. Communications intercepts and testimonies of Houthi prisoners reveal that the Iranian effort is led by Abdel-Reza Shahlai, a senior member of the Revolutionary Guards who has become the director of the Yemen scene from Tehran’s point of view over the past few years.
The US is also increasing its involvement: 200 American soldiers were sent to Saudi Arabia
On the other side, the US is also increasing its involvement in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. According to a CNN report, it has expanded intelligence assistance in Saudi Arabia’s fight against the Houthis, as well as assistance in choosing targets in battles.
More than 100 American military advisers are on the ground in Saudi Arabia and provide the kingdom with intelligence and assistance in choosing targets as part of its military campaign against the Houthis. American military personnel are operating within the framework of a new joint command established in recent weeks, amid signs that Iran is increasing its efforts to aid the Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia. In total, there are about 200 American soldiers within this joint command.