By Al-Fassel | 2024-07-19

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) has been smuggling weapons and weapon components to the Houthis in Yemen since 2015, evidence examined by the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) shows.

A comparison of Iranian weapons with weapon components seized en route to the Houthis shows stark similarities.

"Between 2015 and 2024, the United States and its partners have interdicted at least 20 Iranian smuggling vessels, seizing ballistic, cruise and surface-to-air missile (SAM) components, antitank guided missiles (ATGMs), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and thousands of assault rifles, rocket components and other illicit weapons destined for the Houthis," the DIA report said.

The report examined evidence from two operations in January carried out by the US Navy and US Coast Guard to impede Iranian smuggling of lethal aid to the Houthis.

"Photographs of missiles displayed by the Iranians -- as well as debris acquired from previous Houthi attacks, compared with those of the interdicted materiel -- strongly indicate their Iranian origin," the report said.

Further analysis of the seized components revealed they share "key identifiable features" with Iranian missile systems, including specific markings, Iranian labels and other unique features, the report said.

As of April 30, the Houthis have used IRGC-supplied ballistic and cruise missiles to conduct at least 56 attacks targeting ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, it said.

The Houthis also "probably have used" Iranian weapons to conduct more than 100 attacks against land-based targets in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Israel since 2015, it said.

Ramifications of Iranian support

The United States has called on Iran to halt its transfer of an "unprecedented" amount of weaponry to the Houthis, which contributes to instability in Yemen and the region, and is a violation of United Nations (UN) sanctions.

To end the civil war in Yemen, the UN Security Council should collectively "call Iran out for its destabilizing role and insist that it cannot hide behind the Houthis," US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood said May 13.

"We must do more to strengthen enforcement and deter sanctions violators," he said.

Tehran's support for the Houthis exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, threatens regional stability and has forced commercial vessels to divert from the Red Sea route that normally carries 12% of global trade.

By pouring money and resources into the IRGC's proxies, the Iranian regime is diverting those limited resources from the Iranian people as the country suffers a major economic crisis.