Yemen’s Houthi rebels get ‘unprecedented’ military support from Iran and Hezbollah: UN

The Houthis have ‘exploited the regional situation and enhanced cooperation’ with Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, UN experts say

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Houthi supporters hold up weapons at a rally in Sana’a, Yemen, on Friday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:45am, 2 Nov 2024

Yemen’s Houthi rebels are transforming themselves into a “powerful military organisation” due to “unprecedented” military support from outside sources, particularly Iran and Hezbollah, according to a UN report.

Since the beginning of the war in Gaza last year, the Houthis, who have controlled large swaths of war-torn Yemen for a decade, have “exploited the regional situation and enhanced cooperation with the ‘axis of resistance,’” which includes Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, the UN experts said.

The panel noted “the transformation of the Houthis from a localised armed group with limited capabilities to a powerful military organisation, extending their operational capabilities well beyond the territories under their control”.

The report published on Friday, which analysed the period from September 2023 through July 2024, said such a transformation was aided by the transfer of military materiel and financial support.

The rebels also benefited from training and technical help provided by the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, as well as Hezbollah and pro-Iran groups in Iraq, the UN experts said.

“Joint operational centres have been set up in Iraq and Lebanon, with Houthi representation, aimed at coordinating joint military actions,” they said.