AP Report: Iranian advisers helped direct Houthi blitz that seized Yemen’s Red Sea coast

An Associated Press investigation has revealed that military advisers from the regime ruling Iran played a direct role on the ground in helping Houthi rebels direct their offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The report, based on interviews with 10 officials and soldiers, highlights a significant increase in Tehran’s direct involvement in the Yemeni civil war. The Houthis managed to seize a 115-kilometer stretch of coastline, including the strategic port city of Mokha and nearby islands, in less than 48 hours. A senior Houthi official told the AP that advisers from the regime ruling Iran were present at all levels during this campaign, including tactical planning and battlefield intelligence analysis. Security analysts noted that these advisers assisted the Houthis in analyzing intercepted communications and satellite intelligence, capabilities the group previously lacked. The rapid Houthi advance was also facilitated by deep divisions among forces backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which resulted in a lack of unified command. Following the collapse of government positions, National Resistance forces were forced to retreat, and tens of thousands of civilians fled the area. The regime ruling Iran has not responded to requests for comment regarding these findings.