According to a report by the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, Russia has been supplying vital targeting information to Yemen's Houthi rebels to support their assaults on Western vessels in the Red Sea.
The Houthis, who control Yemen's capital and a significant portion of the country, have targeted international shipping in the Red Sea since November 2023. These drone and missile strikes were initiated as a demonstration of solidarity with Palestinians in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians, which escalated into the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Two European defense officials and an insider revealed to the Journal that the Iranian-aligned Houthis have been leveraging Russian satellite data to enhance their offensive capabilities. This information has reportedly been relayed through members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who are embedded with the Houthis in Yemen.
Russia's support for a designated terrorist group is viewed as part of a broader strategy by President Vladimir Putin to sow discord in the global economy. The Red Sea is a crucial shipping lane, and disruptions here, combined with the increased military resources required to counter these attacks, have raised concerns among analysts.