Iran, Hezbollah Supporting Red Sea Attacks
By Worthy News’ George Whitten and Stefan J. Bos
TEHRAN/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Security sources say Iran and the militia it supports are helping to attack ships in the Red Sea, especially vessels heading to Israel.
Commanders of Iran’s feared Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Lebanon-based ally Hezbollah are in Yemen helping to direct and oversee Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, Worthy News monitored Saturday.
“The Revolutionary Guards have been helping the Houthis with military training (on advanced weapons),” an Iranian insider told Reuters news agency. “A group of Houthi fighters were in Iran last month and were trained in an IRGC base in central Iran to get familiar with the new technology and the use of missiles.”
Iran, which has armed, trained, and funded the Houthis, stepped up its weapons supplies to the militia as a result of the war in Gaza. The armed conflict erupted after the Iranian-backed Hamas group attacked Israel on October 7.
Tehran has provided advanced drones, anti-ship cruise missiles, precision-strike ballistic missiles, and medium-range missiles to the Houthis. The Houthis started targeting commercial vessels in November “in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.”
The attacks have prompted several air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition inside Yemen. Despite the U.S. reaction, IRGC commanders and advisers continue to provide “knowhow, data, and intelligence support” to Houthis, security officials said.
They try to determine which of the dozens of vessels traveling through the Red Sea each day are destined for Israel and constitute Houthi targets, several sources told Reuters.
IRAN COMMANDERS
Iranian commanders reportedly traveled to Yemen as well and set up a command center in the capital, Sana’a, for the Red Sea attacks by a senior IRGC commander responsible for Yemen.
Despite mounting evidence, the Houthis have denied any Iranian and Hezbollah involvement.
Washington said last month that Iran was deeply involved in planning operations against shipping in the Red Sea and that its intelligence was critical to enable the Houthis to target ships.
Israel has suggested it is attacking Iran to end attacks and prevent the Islamic nation from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Tehran has publicly expressed its intent to destroy Israel, which it views as an illegitimate “Zionist regime.”
The attacks in the Red Sea threaten to impact global trade and could lead to shortages in food and other products as it is one of the world’s most vital waterways, observers say.
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