Wall Street: Iran Supports Houthis with Experts, Drones, Missiles, and Radars

The Wall Street Journal reported that Iranian support for the Houthis in Yemen has enabled the group to carry out its most powerful and complex attacks against Saudi Arabia to date. The newspaper noted that Iranian assistance includes target designation for drone and missile strikes, training, intelligence, and tactical guidance. It added that Iran’s role highlights Tehran’s ability to leverage its ties with the armed Houthi militias, even as U.S. President Donald Trump and his regional allies seek to end the conflict with Iran.

Citing Danny Seetronovitch, former head of Iran’s division in Israel’s Defense Intelligence, the newspaper quoted him as saying the relationship between Iran and the Houthis is “very strong at the operational level,” noting that Tehran has a significant interest in the Houthis’ success.

According to the report, Iran has supported the Houthis since they seized control of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, in 2014, sending weapons via traditional boats. Iran also deployed members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Lebanon’s Hezbollah to train the Houthis in manufacturing and using missiles and drones.

The newspaper added that European and Yemeni officials had previously stated that, after maritime arms shipments were disrupted by U.S. and Israeli strikes, Iran resorted to sending weapons to Yemen via submarines.

The report noted that the Houthis operate as part of a network of Iran-backed armed groups in the region, which share expertise, weapons, personnel, and targets.