Iran Sends IRGC Experts and Missile Components to Yemen

Iran dispatched several Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders and military advisors, along with a shipment of components for missiles and drones, to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen this month. The objective is to enhance the group's capabilities in threatening maritime navigation in the Red Sea, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter.

The sources, including two Iranian officials, Yemen's Minister of Information, and a regional security analyst, stated that the shipment arrived on a Mahan Air flight that departed Tehran on July 13. The aircraft carried between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including military leaders and specialized advisors. Tehran reportedly leveraged the presence of a Houthi delegation on the same flight, which had been in Iran to attend the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to the two Iranian sources, the flight was initially destined for Sana'a Airport but diverted to the port of Hodeidah following airstrikes on the airport. One of these sources indicated that the mission included training Houthi militants on new missile systems and transferring gold to finance the group's activities. Both Iranian sources requested anonymity due to security concerns.

Yemen's internationally recognized government confirmed intelligence indicating Iran's dispatch of IRGC elements and military shipments to Houthi-held territories. Minister of Information Muammar Al-Eryani told Reuters on Wednesday that these actions are part of Iran's enhanced military support for the Houthi militia. Security analyst Muzahim Al-Salloum corroborated that the shipment contained components for short- and medium-range missiles and drones, confirming the arrival of IRGC experts on the flight. He noted that Iran had previously sent military advisors to Yemen via Somalia during the conflict with Israel last year.

These revelations come amid repeated condemnations of Iran for allegedly providing military and logistical support to the Houthis, which the United States and the Yemeni government claim has enabled the group to advance its missile and drone capabilities and threaten international shipping in the Red Sea. No immediate comment was available from Iran or the Houthi group.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Ghaani stated that the July 13 flight was designated for the return of a Houthi delegation that attended Ayatollah Khamenei's funeral, as well as Yemeni citizens receiving medical treatment in Iran. The flight preceded the Houthis' announcement of escalated operations in the Red Sea and the imposition of what they described as a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, a development that heightened concerns regarding the security of a critical global trade route.