Iran reportedly expands influence on Yemen’s Red Sea coast after Houthi takeover - report

The goal of the Houthis is to create a new reality along the Red Sea. They are digging trenches in the mountains to prevent the government forces from retaking the area.

A report at the UAE’s Al-Ain media says that “less than 10 days after the Houthis seized control of Yemen’s west coast, Iran rushed to transform this strategic geographical area into a theater of influence for itself.”

Historically, the UAE and therefore its media outlets have good contacts in Aden and the areas of southern Yemen. The UAE played a key role for years in Yemen, backing the Southern Transitional Council against the Houthis.

Now the report indicates that Iran may be playing a role in the area the Houthis captured on September 11 in Yemen. The Houthis launched a rapid offensive up the coast, capturing Mokha and also the areas along the Bab el-Mandab Strait. This is a strategic area.

“Security and media sources revealed that Iran has deployed radar systems in the commanding heights on the western coast, in addition to using the coastal strip as an outlet for smuggling military equipment from Somalia after field visits by its experts,” the report says. It doesn’t say what type of radar may have been placed nearby.

The report argues that this information “reveals Tehran’s efforts to exploit its Houthi arm to transform the Yemeni coast from Hodeidah to Bab el-Mandab into an advanced line of defense for its regional influence network.”

The Houthis have been increasing attacks on Saudi Arabia since the mid-September offensive. The Iranian-backed militias in Iraq also attacked Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline.

In addition to the radar, the Houthis are also involved in smuggling. “Iranian equipment and weapons shipments have recently arrived for the Houthi militias via the western coast.”

Iranian smuggling into Yemen faces challenges

In the past, the Iranians had an easier time smuggling systems into Yemen. Missiles and drone parts arrived by sea. The Iranians recently tried to reopen an air corridor to Yemen in July. The Saudis opposed this. The US has a maritime blockade of Iran. It is unclear how Iran would smuggle items to Yemen.

The sources told Al-Ain that shipments are being unloaded. “After their arrival from the coasts of Somalia, [the shipments] were supervised by Hassan Al-Attas, who is the head of the Fisheries Authority in the Red Sea, based in Hodeidah.”

Al-Ain says that “Attas runs a smuggling network that is a model of an integrated functional hierarchical structure closely linked to the leader Ibrahim Hassan Ismail Al-Madani, while the prominent leader Shaher Al-Qahoum, who trained in Iran, provides it with security cover.”

This type of name-dropping is typical of Al-Ain stories on Yemen. It illustrates the kind of messaging and sourcing behind the report. This is why these reports can matter.

“Al-Attas is also responsible for recruiting fishermen and those with deep maritime experience for the militias, managing smuggling operations from Iran by sea to the shores of Hodeidah, receiving shipments upon arrival, and delivering them to the Houthi militias, as recently reported.”

Houthis intend to create new reality along Red Sea

The goal of the Houthis is to create a new reality along the Red Sea. They are digging trenches in the mountains to prevent the government forces from re-taking the area. They are also increasing activity on the coastline.

“Sources have revealed the installation of radar systems and newly established sites in the highlands overlooking the western coast and the new areas of control.”

The report also says there is activity on Zuqar Island, also known as Jazirat Jebel Zuqar, which means the “Island of Mount Zuaqr,” near the Hanish island chain in the Red Sea.

“These steps come as an outcome of visits and field tours conducted by Iranian experts to vital sites, including Bab el-Mandab, the port and airport of Mokha, during which they met with engineers of the Houthi missile force to establish a new phase of threats to international navigation.”