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The British website Middle East Eye has revealed that U.S. intelligence believes Russian military intelligence officers have been deployed in Yemen to assist the Houthis in targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea.
According to the website, a senior U.S. official confirmed that “Russian military intelligence members have been playing advisory roles for several months in the Yemeni territories controlled by the Houthis, who are showing solidarity with those besieged in Gaza.”
The report also mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin has considered providing the Houthis with advanced anti-ship cruise missiles.
This claim was also reported by The Wall Street Journal a few days ago, highlighting that the United States remains concerned about the possibility of Putin arming the Houthis, possibly as a means to deter the U.S. from allowing Ukraine to launch deeper attacks into Russian territory.
A Balance of Terror
Retired U.S. General Frank McKenzie told Middle East Eye that there is a connection between Russia’s war on Ukraine and the attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
He added that Putin views the U.S. as responsible for Ukrainian attacks on Russian ships in the Black Sea, and that his moves in the Red Sea could be a response to U.S. support for Ukraine.
In July, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met with a Houthi delegation led by the group’s spokesperson, Mohammed Abdul Salam, in Moscow.
Ongoing Activity
Middle East Eye suggested that Putin’s decision to send Russian military intelligence officials to Yemen stems from his desire to better organize Houthi intelligence capabilities. The website emphasized that Russia does not hesitate to deploy ground forces in the Middle East to protect its interests.
The report noted that the Russian Wagner Group is active in Libya and the Sahel region of Africa, while the Russian military is also present in Syria, supporting President Bashar al-Assad. Additionally, Russia is progressing with plans to build a naval base in the Red Sea.
The Houthis have begun launching missiles and drones at commercial ships heading to Israel in the Red Sea, in response to ongoing massacres in Gaza. They have stated that these attacks will only cease once the war on the besieged Gaza Strip comes to an end.
Source: Al Jazeera
