Iran was “very involved in planning” recent attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, a White House National Security Council spokeswoman said Friday. The United States, which has set up a military coalition to defend maritime traffic in the area, is conducting “intensive consultations with (their) allies and partners” on how to respond to these attacks, Adrienne Watson added in a statement.
Without Iran’s help, Yemeni rebels ‘would struggle to spot and strike’
“We have no reason to believe that Iran is trying to deter the Houthis from continuing their irresponsible actions,” she added. “Iranian support for the Houthis is solid and translates into deliveries of sophisticated military equipment, intelligence assistance, financial aid and training,” said the spokesperson, affirming that Tehran had “made possible ” these attacks while “delegating operational decisions to the Houthis.”
Without help from Iran, Yemeni rebels “would have difficulty spotting and striking” boats circulating in the Red Sea, she said. This wave of attacks, carried out with drones and missiles against ships that the Houthis believe to be “linked to Israel”, threatens to disrupt global trade. The main maritime transport companies have in fact given up for the moment on using the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The Houthis, who control much of Yemen but are not recognized by the international community, repeat that they will continue until sufficient food and medicine enter the Gaza Strip, the bombed and besieged Palestinian territory. by Israel, in reaction to the unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7 on Israeli territory.
Iran recognizes its political support for the Houthis, at war since 2014 against the Yemeni government recognized by the international community. But Tehran denies providing military equipment to the rebels.