Deputy Commander of the IRGC: Houthis Have Unlimited Options for War

The deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran stated that Ansar Allah (Houthi rebels of Yemen) has 'unlimited options' for confronting Saudi Arabia, including 'missiles and artillery.' The commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces also mentioned that 'the outcome of the Yemen war will be determined on the ground.' According to Tasnim News Agency, Hossein Salami, the deputy commander of the IRGC, said in unspecified remarks that the Yemen war will not end soon militarily. He deemed it 'unlikely' that Saudi Arabia would use its army for a ground battle, stating that the Houthis possess 'missile, armored, and artillery capabilities.' On the other hand, Ahmadreza Pourdastan, the commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces, asserted that the results of the battles 'will be determined not in the air but on the ground.' According to Mehr News Agency, Mr. Pourdastan said on April 16, during remarks to reporters, that 'Saudi Arabia's aggression against Yemen will fail, and the effects of this are clearly visible over the past two weeks.' Saudi Arabia and a coalition of Arab countries, supported by the United States, have conducted airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen over the past three weeks. These attacks have faced strong opposition and criticism from Iranian officials, including the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. The Arab coalition seeks to restore power to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the ousted president of Yemen, who has accused Tehran of interfering in his country's affairs. The deputy commander of the IRGC, following the Supreme Leader's remarks that 'the Saudis' noses will be rubbed in the dirt in Yemen,' stated, 'I believe that Saudi Arabia will enter a quagmire, and if it engages in ground warfare, it will sink into this quagmire unless it resorts to political solutions.' Previously, the Iranian Foreign Minister had proposed a four-point plan for establishing peace in Yemen, which was rejected by the Saudi ambassador in Washington. The latest statements from Iranian military officials come as Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah in Lebanon, has also recently criticized Saudi Arabia and expressed support for his allies in Tehran. Last year, the Houthi rebels overran Sana'a, overthrowing the government of Mansur Hadi, the internationally recognized president of Yemen. Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi fled to Aden in February and sought refuge in Saudi Arabia as the rebels advanced.