The governor of Yemen’s Jawf governorate, in north central Yemen bordering Saudi Arabia, told a press conference, December 15, that the Yemeni army had captured “a large number of militias, including Iranian experts and others from Hizballah… ,” according to al-Arabiya.  The governor said that the Iranians and Hizballah personnel were providing the Houthi militias with information and support.

Comment:

Although Iranian and Hezbollah assistance to the Houthi rebels, including training and equipment, has been discussed for a long time, it is relatively rare for their presence to be revealed in this dramatic fashion.  The Iranian battlefield support further demonstrates Iran’s responsibility for extending the conflict in Yemen, which has caused catastrophic damage to Yemen and its citizens, and obstructing UN-led peace talks.

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