Iranian arms and advice helped Yemen's Houthis seize key Red Sea city, sources say - Reuters

The Houthi movement seized a strategically important city on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, marking a notable shift in the ongoing conflict in the region. The capture was reported to have been facilitated by the provision of weapons and technical assistance originating from Iran.

Iranian arms, including advanced missile systems and small‑arms supplies, were identified as key components that enabled the Houthi forces to overcome local defenses. In addition to material support, Iranian military advisers are said to have offered operational guidance to the militants during the offensive.

The guidance is attributed to elements of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, which are reported to have directed the Houthi advance with the objective of opening a new front in Iran’s broader confrontation with the United States. This strategic intent aligns with Tehran’s reported efforts to expand the geographic scope of its regional contest with Washington.

Yemeni government officials, along with Iranian and other regional observers, described the Houthi movement’s progress along the Red Sea coastline as rapid and coordinated. The swift nature of the operation has been characterized as a “lightning” advance that caught local authorities off guard.

The seizure of the Red Sea city raises concerns about the security of one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, potentially affecting international shipping and heightening tensions among regional powers engaged in the wider Iran‑U.S. rivalry.