By Al-Fassel | 2024-10-02

Russia has been discussing weapon transfers with the Iran-backed Houthis, whose attacks on Red Sea shipping are holding hostage a vital commercial waterway, according to a top US official.

Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, US special envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking said Moscow was "cutting its own deals" with the Houthis to allow their ships to sail through the Red Sea unharmed.

"We have confirmation that the Russians and the Houthis are in dialogue about ways to cooperate," including on weapon transfers, Lenderking told AFP September 25.

"We don't know that weapons are being transferred as we speak, but it's come to the point that we're all sounding the alarm bell to make sure that this does not happen," he said.

Weapon transfers "could potentially change the conflict in a significant manner," Lenderking said, warning of "an escalation" that would derail already stalled efforts to end Yemen's decade-long war.

"The notion that the Russians would provide the Houthis with lethal weapons is deeply alarming to the countries of the region," he said.

The US envoy noted a flurry of diplomatic efforts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to curb the Red Sea attacks.

"My team and I have been meeting with the Saudis, the Emiratis, the Omanis, and the Yemen government," Lenderking said.

"I think we're all looking for what is the right set of pressures and inducements to encourage the Houthis to back away from the Red Sea," he added.

"Our preferred outcome is diplomatic."

When asked about Iran's role in the Russia-Houthi talks, the US envoy said: "Iran is always looking for ways to protect and amplify the interest of the Houthis."

Russian arms to Houthis

US intelligence agencies have previously warned that Russia may be planning to arm the Houthis in Yemen with advanced anti-ship missiles.

Aerial photographs taken several months ago show a rendezvous between a large Russian ship and smaller Houthi boats, which then ferried crates to shore, according to a reliable US government source.

In an interview published by Russia's Izvestia on January 19, a senior Houthi official promised safe passage for Russian and Chinese vessels through the Red Sea, though it later attacked vessels linked to both nations -- likely in error.

Several Russian ships continued to operate in the Red Sea, however, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said in an August 22 analysis.

It noted that the onward activities of two ships the Houthis attacked in the Red Sea indicate the Russians may have received assurances from the Houthis following the incidents.