Russia’s engagement with the Houthis as they lob missiles at ships is getting ‘serious,’ US official says

A screenshot captured from a video released by the Houthis in June shows that a missile launched from an undisclosed desert area in Yemen.

Russia could decide to help the Houthis with their Red Sea attacks and is engaging with the Iran-backed rebels at a “serious level,” a senior US State Department official said.

The Houthis have long received extensive support from Iran, including weapons and training, which the rebels have relied on over the past year to carry out attacks on military and civilian vessels transiting key Middle Eastern shipping lanes.

But the State Department has grown increasingly concerned in recent months that the Houthis could be receiving assistance from another country: Russia, US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking told B-17 in a recent interview.

“It does seem as though there is a fairly serious level of engagement happening,” Lenderking said of the Houthis and Russia. “We are particularly concerned about the kind of equipment that would really enable the Houthis to be more accurate in their targeting of US and other ships in the region — that would enhance the Houthi capability to strike those targets.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin exits his limousine as he arrives at Red Square in Moscow earlier this month.

Lenderking said the US has discussed the situation at “high levels” with Saudi Arabia, a partner nation that fought the Houthis for years, and with Russia as well. The relationship between Washington and Moscow has been fraught with tension since the latter invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

The US has also made efforts to convey messages to the Houthis. Lenderking said that the Yemeni rebels appear to be determined to strike the American and European warships that have spent the past year defending merchant shipping from their relentless attacks.

“The fact that the Russians might assist in this effort is diabolical,” Lenderking said. “It’s a very strong concern.”

The full scope of Russian support for the Houthis is unclear. Some Western media reports suggest that Moscow has already provided the rebels with targeting data and small arms and was considering supplying them with missiles — a development that could significantly escalate the conflict.

The Houthis are known to have received help from outside of Yemen. A recent United Nations report found that the rebels have been getting weapons, training, technical assistance, and financial support from Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and armed Iraqi groups.

Newly affiliated Houthi fighters shout slogans while attending a demonstration against Israel and in solidarity with Palestinians in Yemen in October.

Russia and Iran have increased their military ties since the start of the Ukraine war. Tehran has provided Moscow with lethal aid, including missiles and drones similar to what it has given the Houthis in previous years. Both countries have been isolated on the world stage over their malign actions and involvement in Ukraine.

The Houthis have used their arsenal of missiles and drones over the past year to tirelessly carry out attacks on military and civilian vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, a campaign that the rebels claim is connected to the Israel-Hamas war.

American forces operating in the region in defense of the merchant shipping lanes are frequently tasked with intercepting Houthi threats. Just last week, for instance, two US Navy destroyers had to fend off a complex missile and drone attack.

The US also routinely carries out airstrikes in Yemen, targeting rebel missile systems, weapons storage facilities, and other sensitive sites in an effort to curb their ability to carry out the attacks.

Lenderking said that the Houthis still “maintain the ability to launch pretty aggressively at passing ships,” but the US is committed to keeping shipping lanes open in the Red Sea.