An exiled Iranian resistance group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), has uncovered evidence that top Iranian regime officials are directly supporting Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. The evidence shows how the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) is supplying the Houthi terror proxies in Yemen with a variety of weaponry, including drones, cruise missiles, and anti-ship mines. The Houthis have conducted over 50 attacks targeting ships in the region since October 7. A Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report from February 2024 further demonstrates Iranian support to the Houthis through unmanned aerial vehicles and missile systems, including Iranian missiles used to target Israel.
The MEK reports that the IRGC-QF uses various methods to deliver military material to the Houthis in Yemen, including pressuring local barge owners to ferry weapons to Houthi boats off the coast of Yemen and shipping materials through stopovers in African countries. The Houthis have utilized Iranian weaponry to target Israel, including a cruise missile that infiltrated Israel on March 18. The MEK also states that Iran trains the Houthis in using high-tech weaponry and has helped them evolve into a conventional military force. CENTCOM’s deputy commander, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, confirmed IRGC personnel are serving alongside the Houthis in Yemen, advising them and providing target information.
The MEK also highlights the role of senior Iranian leadership in coordinating with the Houthis, including Brig. Gen. Abdul Reza Shahlai, Brig. Gen. Ismail Qaani, and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. These officials have been sanctioned by the U.S. for their involvement in terrorist activities. Despite the growing sanctions against Iran, the country maintains a sophisticated system for funding terrorism through various means, making it challenging to thwart Iranian support to the Houthis. The international community is urged to hold the IRGC-QF accountable for using the Houthis to destabilize the region.
Iran’s relationship with the Houthis is seen as a key strategy in causing harm to Israel and creating pressure on the country to expand its defense assets. This, in turn, could reduce political space for Israel and potentially strain relations with the U.S. Ultimately, Iran’s strategy of supporting the Houthis and other proxies in the region is likely to lead to more weapons proliferation, increasing tensions and threats in the Middle East. It is important for the international community to take action against Iran’s support for terrorist groups and hold accountable those responsible for destabilizing the region.
