The White House has directly implicated Iran in the recent spate of Houthi rebel attacks on merchant vessels navigating the Red Sea.
On Friday, the White House revealed declassified intelligence underscoring Tehran’s extensive support for the Yemeni rebel faction, encompassing weaponry and strategic intelligence. Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for White House national security, commented, “Iran’s deep involvement in orchestrating assaults on Red Sea commercial vessels aligns with its persistent backing of Houthi disruptive activities in the area.”
Highlighting the similarities, the White House emphasized the striking resemblance between Iran’s KAS-04 drones and the unmanned aerial vehicles deployed by the Houthis. Additionally, parallels were drawn between Iranian and Houthi missile technologies. Notably, Al Jazeera hasn’t independently authenticated these assertions.
The Houthis, commanding significant territories in Yemen, including its capital Sanaa, have executed numerous drone and missile strikes on Red Sea maritime traffic. They claim these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians confronting Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Such assaults have prompted substantial global trade rerouting, compelling shipping firms like Mediterranean Shipping Company, CMA CGM, and AP Moller-Maersk to halt Red Sea passages, incurring escalated costs and delivery setbacks.
In response, the U.S. introduced a multinational coalition, encompassing over 20 nations, aimed at safeguarding Red Sea ship transit routes. In a recent operation, a U.S. guided-missile destroyer intercepted 14 hostile drones allegedly dispatched from Houthi territories.
Reacting to the mounting tensions, Houthi leaders issued warnings of retaliation against U.S. naval assets and interests. While Tehran acknowledges political allegiance to the Houthis, it vehemently denies supplying arms to the group. Iran’s Foreign Affairs Ministry refuted claims by Israel suggesting Iranian direction of Houthi actions, including the capture of an Israeli vessel.
The Houthis, adhering to a United Nations-mediated ceasefire with the Saudi-endorsed government since the prior year, instigated a fierce civil war in 2014 by rebelling against the Yemeni administration.
