The Houthi rebels are transforming themselves into a “powerful military organization” due to “unprecedented” military support from outside sources, including Iran and Hezbollah, according to a UN report.
The report said such a transformation was aided by the transfer of military materiel and financial support, and revealed the increasing cooperation between the Houthis and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as groups in Somalia, Iraq and Lebanon.
The report noted an increase in smuggling activities between the Houthis and the Somali Al-Shabaab movement, adding that the former are working to strengthen their relations with the Somali groups to evaluate options for carrying out attacks at sea from the Somali coast.
The rebels also benefited from training and technical help provided by the foreign operations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, as well as Hezbollah and pro-Iran groups in Iraq, the UN experts said.
Houthi fighters were being trained outside Yemen, either in Iran or at Hezbollah training facilities in Lebanon, the panel added.
Hezbollah is known as one of the Houthis’ “most important supporters” due to the militant group’s involvement in rebel decision-making, support for assembling weapons systems, financing, “ideological guidance” and propaganda efforts.
While the rebels lack the ability to "develop and produce complex weapon systems," such as the missiles used to target ships in the Red Sea, some of their weaponry are comparable to those employed by Iran and Iran-backed militias.