News Agency Close to the IRGC: The Islamic Republic Has Provided 'Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles' to the Houthis

The Tasnim news agency, close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that the Islamic Republic has supplied anti-ship ballistic missiles known as 'Qadr' to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The report, published on Wednesday, June 9, states that the Qadr missile is Iran's 'first' anti-ship ballistic missile. This report comes after a significant missile and drone attack by the Islamic Republic on Israel, which notably damaged the reputation of Iranian-made weapons, as only a few ballistic missiles managed to penetrate Israel's air defense systems, and according to the Israeli army, no significant damage was inflicted on its facilities. Tasnim further noted that the Houthi missile 'Mohit' was 'actually designed based on the exact model of the Iranian anti-ship Qadr missile.' The Houthi rebels have endangered international trade and the safety of sailors by firing missiles at commercial ships passing through the Red Sea. Western experts have repeatedly accused the Islamic Republic of jeopardizing the security of the region by supplying weapons to rebel and non-state forces throughout the Middle East and attempting to destabilize other governments. Michael Kurilla, the senior commander of the U.S. Central Command, stated on Thursday, March 22, during a House Armed Services Committee meeting that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a supplier of weapons to the Houthis and must bear the costs of this action. Kurilla urged the U.S. government and international bodies to work harder to prevent the supply of weapons from Iran to the Islamic Republic's proxy groups. He also called on the United Nations to activate ship inspection mechanisms to prevent arms trafficking to subversive groups. John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council at the White House, had previously denied a report by the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti regarding the Houthis being equipped with hypersonic missiles. U.S. forces have previously discovered and seized shipments of weapons sent by the Islamic Republic to the Houthis. A hearing was held to inform the captain of the boat carrying missile equipment for the Houthis. The Houthis claimed to have attacked three ships in the Red Sea, Mediterranean, and Arabian seas. Australia has listed the Iran-backed Houthis as a 'terrorist organization.' CENTCOM reported that the oil tanker targeted by the Houthis had last docked in Russia and was en route to China. The U.S. stated that the Islamic Republic cannot hide behind the Houthis and must immediately cease destabilizing actions. The Israeli Navy's air defense system 'for the first time' shot down a drone. The Houthi leader claimed they attacked 90 ships, resulting in 37 casualties. The senior U.S. Air Force commander in the Middle East stated that the Houthis are facing shortages of weapons and ammunition. The U.S. Secretary of State stated that the Iranian government is the main supplier of weapons, intelligence, and technology to the Houthis. The White House told Voice of America that reports about the Houthis being equipped with hypersonic missiles are incorrect. The U.S. intelligence community considers the Islamic Republic a 'regional threat' and a 'source of widespread subversive activities.' The CENTCOM commander stated that the Islamic Republic has turned the Middle East into a 'hotbed of crises.'