Iran transported Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, military advisers, and missile- and drone-related equipment to Yemen earlier this month, according to four sources familiar with the matter, in a move that suggests Tehran is seeking to strengthen the military capabilities of its Houthi allies and increase pressure on Red Sea shipping routes.
According to Reuters, the previously unreported transfer took place on July 13, when a Mahan Air flight departed Tehran carrying IRGC personnel and military-related cargo.
The aircraft was initially scheduled to land in the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, but was diverted to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah after Sanaa airport reportedly came under attack.
Sources Say IRGC Personnel Were on Board
Four sources, including two Iranian sources, Yemen’s information minister, and a regional security analyst, told Reuters that the aircraft carried between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders.
One Iranian source said the commanders were sent to support Houthi military operations and provide training on new missile systems. The same source also alleged that Iran transported gold on the aircraft to help finance Houthi activities. Reuters said the Iranian sources requested anonymity due to security concerns.
Iran Denies Supplying Missile Capabilities
Iran’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately comment on the report. Tehran has consistently denied providing the Houthis with missile capabilities or directing their military operations.
A Houthi media official, Abdel Rahman al-Ahnomi, who said he was on the July 13 flight, rejected the allegations, describing claims that military experts were aboard as “lies and fabrications.” He maintained that all passengers were civilians.
The Houthis have also repeatedly denied acting as an Iranian proxy, saying they independently develop their own weapons.
Concerns Over Red Sea Security
The reported deployment comes as concerns grow over security in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
Three days after the reported flight, Reuters separately reported that Tehran had asked the Houthis to prepare to disrupt Red Sea shipping if the United States targeted Iranian infrastructure.
On Monday, the Houthis announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, saying it was in response to the bombing of Sanaa airport on July 13, which they blamed on the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
The group later claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers, raising fears of renewed instability in regional energy markets.
Yemeni Government Confirms Intelligence
Yemen’s Information Minister Moammar al-Iryani, representing the internationally recognized Saudi-backed government, confirmed to Reuters that intelligence indicated IRGC personnel and military equipment had been transferred to Yemen.
According to al-Iryani, the mission was intended to strengthen Houthi military capabilities and prepare the group to threaten international shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Regional security analyst Mzahem Alsaloum, who monitors Iranian-backed armed groups, also told Reuters that missile and drone components were included in the cargo. He said the equipment resembled systems previously used in attacks against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Flight Followed Houthi Delegation Visit to Tehran
The Houthis recently announced direct flights between Tehran and Sanaa, describing the service as a way to ease what they call a Saudi-imposed blockade.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the July 13 flight was intended to return a Houthi delegation that had traveled to Tehran to attend the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with Yemeni citizens who had received medical treatment in Iran.
According to Reuters’ sources, the aircraft carried members of that delegation back to Yemen while also transporting IRGC commanders and military advisers. Before landing in Sanaa, the aircraft was forced to divert to Hodeidah after the airport came under attack.
Regional Tensions Continue to Rise
The reported deployment highlights growing regional tensions as conflict involving Iran, the Houthis, Saudi Arabia, and the United States continues to evolve.
While Reuters cited multiple sources supporting the claims, Iran and the Houthis continue to deny military cooperation of the kind described in the report.
If confirmed, the alleged transfer would represent another step in Tehran’s efforts to strengthen allied armed groups operating near one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors.
