Yemen blames Iran, Hezbollah for 21 military experts

The internationally recognized government of Yemen has stated that 21 foreign specialists are currently operating inside the country to direct Houthi military planning. Interior Minister Major-General Ibrahim Haidan announced on Tuesday that 14 of these individuals are members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while the remaining seven are from Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

According to Haidan, the presence of these experts marks a shift from previous support that focused on financing, arming, and training. He described the current situation as one of direct supervision and participation in managing operations and building military capabilities.

The statement provided a specific breakdown of where these personnel are located. Eight are stationed in Hodeidah, four in Sanaa, and four in Saada. Two are in Hajjah, two in Amran, and one is in the coastal city of Khokha. Their listed specialities include command and control, ballistic missiles, drones, electronic warfare, and naval coordination. They are also tasked with developing explosive-laden boats and autonomous submarines, as well as training fighters in mine-laying and siege tactics.

Haidan warned that these activities threaten shipping lanes in the Bab al-Mandeb strait and the Red Sea. He noted that the expertise could also be transferred to other armed groups in the region. The minister called on the international community to designate the Houthis a terrorist organization and to enforce existing United Nations arms embargoes.

The accusation comes amid renewed conflict. Yemeni forces and government-loyal fighters are battling the Houthis in five provinces. The fighting restarted after the Houthis seized the western Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandeb area in September. This conflict has ended a period of relative quiet that began with a ceasefire in 2022.

The civil war first erupted in 2014 when the Houthis captured the capital, Sanaa. In 2015, Saudi Arabia led an international coalition to restore the recognized government. While Tehran maintains that the Houthis act independently, the Yemeni government has long accused the IRGC of backing them. Hezbollah has previously denied having a role in the Yemen conflict.

Saudi Arabia, which has faced Houthi attacks on its airports and oil facilities in recent weeks, has also blamed Iran for encouraging the current escalation.