Reuters: The Islamic Republic and Hezbollah Lebanon are assisting Houthi attacks in the Red Sea

Reuters reported in an exclusive article on Saturday, January 20, citing four regional sources and two Iranian sources, that commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah Lebanon are present in Yemen and are assisting in the guidance and oversight of Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Four regional sources told Reuters that the Islamic Republic has increased its military logistics for the Houthis following the Gaza war, which began after the attack by Hamas militants supported by the Islamic Republic on Israel on October 7. They added that Tehran has provided advanced drones, anti-ship cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and medium-range missiles to the Houthis to target commercial vessels in the Red Sea in solidarity with Hamas. The Houthis, Hamas, Hezbollah, and several other militia groups in the region, such as Hashd al-Shaabi in Iraq, are proxy groups of the Islamic Republic. Reuters, citing its sources in the region and Iran, reported that IRGC commanders and advisors have provided technical knowledge, intelligence, and intelligence support to the Houthis to inform them about the routes of ships that are said to be heading to Israel. Washington stated last month that the Islamic Republic is extensively involved in planning operations against shipping in the Red Sea, and its information is vital for the Houthis to target ships. The White House referred to previous public comments regarding Iran's support for the Houthis in response to a request for comment from Reuters. Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor, stated in a press conference in mid-December that Washington believes, based on evidence and reasons, that these attacks, while carried out by the Houthis in Yemen, have been made entirely possible by the Islamic Republic. Houthi attacks have impacted global shipping between Asia and Europe through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait near Yemen. Consequently, U.S. and British-led airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen have opened a new scene of conflict related to the Israel-Hamas war. An informed Iranian source told Reuters, 'The IRGC has assisted the Houthis in military training for advanced weapons. A group of Houthi rebels was in Iran last month and received training at an IRGC base in central Iran to become familiar with new technology and the use of missiles.' This source stated that Iranian commanders have also traveled to Yemen and established a command center in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, for attacks in the Red Sea, which is managed by the senior commander responsible for Yemen. According to two former Yemeni military sources, members of the IRGC and Hezbollah Lebanon have a visible presence in Yemen. They said they are responsible for overseeing military operations, training, and reassembling smuggled missiles sent to Yemen in separate parts. The U.S. recently announced that it discovered and seized Iranian-made weapons for the Houthis from a vessel. While the Islamic Republic has denied any direct role in the attacks in the Red Sea, Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, praised the Houthis and expressed hope that their attacks would continue 'until victory.' U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Wednesday, January 17, that the group 'Ansar Allah,' also known as the Houthis, will be designated as an international terrorist organization one month after this date. He stated that this decision was made in response to Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in international shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as well as on military forces stationed in the region to defend the safety and security of shipping. The Houthis promised shipping security in the Red Sea to Russia and China. Another commercial vessel was attacked in the Gulf of Aden. Reuters: The U.S. targeted Houthi anti-ship missiles. CENTCOM: Iran-backed Houthis launched a missile attack on a U.S. vessel. The British Maritime Security Organization: The Houthis mistakenly targeted a tanker carrying Russian oil. The Houthis claim that 11 militants were killed and wounded in U.S. and British attacks. The U.S. Air Force: 60 military targets of the Houthis in Yemen were attacked.