Iran Reportedly Moves to Expand Influence Along Yemen’s Red Sea Coast After Houthi Takeover

A report by UAE-based Al-Ain says that “less than 10 days after the Houthis seized control of Yemen’s west coast, Iran rushed to transform this strategic geographical area into a theater of influence for itself.”

The UAE has long maintained contacts in Aden and southern Yemen, and Abu Dhabi has supported the Southern Transitional Council in its conflict with the Houthis.

Iran may now be seeking to strengthen its presence in territory captured by the Houthis on September 11. The group launched a rapid coastal offensive, seizing Mokha and areas near the Bab el-Mandab Strait, a strategically important maritime passage.

“Security and media sources revealed that Iran has deployed radar systems in the commanding heights on the western coast, in addition to using the coastal strip as an outlet for smuggling military equipment from Somalia after field visits by its experts,” the report says.

The report provides no details about the alleged radar systems.

Al-Ain says the developments “reveals Tehran’s efforts to exploit its Houthi arm to transform the Yemeni coast from Hodeidah to Bab el-Mandab into an advanced line of defense for its regional influence network.”

The Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia since their mid-September offensive. Separately, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have attacked Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline.

The report also alleges that the Houthis are helping smuggle weapons and equipment along the western coast. “Iranian equipment and weapons shipments have recently arrived for the Houthi militias via the western coast.”

Iranian Smuggling Routes Face New Obstacles

Iran has previously moved military equipment, including missiles and drone components, into Yemen by sea. Tehran also reportedly sought to reopen an air corridor to Yemen in July, but Saudi Arabia opposed the effort.

The United States has imposed a maritime blockade on Iran, and it remains unclear how Tehran could continue supplying equipment to Yemen.

Sources cited by Al-Ain said shipments are unloaded after reaching the Yemeni coast. “After their arrival from the coasts of Somalia, [the shipments] were supervised by Hassan Al-Attas, who is the head of the Fisheries Authority in the Red Sea, based in Hodeidah.”

Al-Ain further alleges that “Attas runs a smuggling network that is a model of an integrated functional hierarchical structure closely linked to the leader Ibrahim Hassan Ismail Al-Madani, while the prominent leader Shaher Al-Qahoum, who trained in Iran, provides it with security cover.”

The report’s focus on specific individuals reflects the sourcing and messaging often found in Al-Ain’s coverage of Yemen.

“Al-Attas is also responsible for recruiting fishermen and those with deep maritime experience for the militias, managing smuggling operations from Iran by sea to the shores of Hodeidah, receiving shipments upon arrival, and delivering them to the Houthi militias, as recently reported.”

Houthis Seek to Establish a New Reality Along the Red Sea

The report says the Houthis are seeking to consolidate their presence along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Their forces are reportedly digging trenches in mountainous areas to hinder any government effort to retake the territory while expanding coastal operations.

“Sources have revealed the installation of radar systems and newly established sites in the highlands overlooking the western coast and the new areas of control.”