Houthis and Iraqi Militias Unite Against Saudi Arabia
Regional officials have revealed that Yemen's Houthis helped Iraqi militias plan and execute a two-day drone attack on Saudi oil facilities in July, marking a new level of coordination between Iran-backed groups.
The cooperation reflects an effort by Iran to use armed groups in Iraq and Yemen to threaten Saudi Arabia and other US allies in the Gulf. This strategy carries significant risks, as it may reignite full-scale war with Saudi Arabia and escalate tensions in the region.
A Houthi official confirmed that emissaries worked inside an operations room run by Iraqi militias, which was involved in planning the drone attack. The operation resulted in joint airstrikes by Saudi Arabia and the US that killed at least 20 Iraqi fighters, six Iranian advisers, and one Houthi official.
The Houthis have been smuggling advanced weapons for years, circumventing a UN arms embargo. They have an array of cruise and ballistic missiles, drones, and unmanned submarines, which they use to target Saudi oil facilities and tankers in the Red Sea.