Wall Street Journal: Yemeni Houthis Equipped with Advanced Iranian Weapons

The Wall Street Journal reported on the continued equipping of Yemen's Houthis with advanced Iranian weapons, stating that despite U.S.-led airstrikes, the Houthis' capability to attack commercial ships and disrupt international trade will increase. On Wednesday, February 4, the journal noted that military technology and advisors linked to the Islamic Republic are a significant aid to Houthi attacks, writing: "Iran has provided the Houthis with advanced equipment, including drone jamming systems and components for long-range and cruise missiles." The report emphasized that the Islamic Republic and Hezbollah have sent advisors to assist the Houthis in planning and executing their attacks in Yemen. The Wall Street Journal also quoted Western officials as saying that new innovations could enhance the effectiveness of Houthi attacks on ships and Israeli territories. The report identified a person named Abdul-Reza Shahlaei as a key commander of the IRGC and head of the Islamic Republic's operations in Yemen, playing a central role in equipping and training the Houthis. Western officials also informed the Wall Street Journal that the transfer of ballistic missile technology and training is conducted by Unit 340 of the Quds Force, which has trained Houthi personnel in Iran and Lebanon, led by Hamid Fazeli, the former head of Iran's space missile program. A senior U.S. Navy commander in the Middle East stated on Monday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is "very directly" involved in Houthi attacks on ships. Brad Cooper, commander of the Fifth Fleet, told the Associated Press in a phone interview that Iran-related attacks have expanded beyond previous threats in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to waters across the Middle East. However, Iranian officials deny any connection to terrorist attacks in the region, as well as attacks carried out in the Red Sea by the Houthis. Meanwhile, Saeed Golkar, a Tehran security services expert at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, told the Wall Street Journal: "Iran's military DNA is to deny responsibility and conduct dirty work through others." The American news site Politico had previously reported that intelligence data indicates the Houthis are seeking to acquire more weapons from the Iranian government to increase their attacks in the Red Sea. According to this report, U.S. officials assess that the Houthis may also potentially be looking to attack Western forces in the region. The U.S. and Britain have once again attacked "Houthi targets" in Yemen. The U.S. stated that the Houthis' claim of a "successful attack" on an American ship is "clearly false." A senior U.S. military official stated that the Islamic Republic has a "direct role" in Houthi attacks on ships. CENTCOM has concluded its "search and rescue operations" for missing American sailors. The implications of risky political and military behaviors; the former head of the Central Bank stated that the engine of "price increase" for the dollar is being ignited. Reuters reported that the Islamic Republic and Hezbollah are assisting Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. The White House confirmed that the U.S. targeted Houthi positions three times on Friday.