Iran is playing a critical role on the Yemeni battlefield

The ongoing Yemeni war has seen Iran play a significant role in the battlefield, according to recent reports. Analysts believe that Tehran is pushing the Houthi rebels to escalate their operations across the entire country and beyond the border with Saudi Arabia, aiming to draw in the Gulf states into a larger and more costly conflict.

Despite some Houthi elements arriving on Yemeni islands and installing radar equipment, the group has not yet achieved a decisive victory. Instead, they have managed to dig trenches and tunnels, and install equipment on high ground overlooking the southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait with the help of Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC).

Yemeni government forces claim to maintain air superiority and are continuously monitoring areas occupied by the Houthis. In a clash reported near Al-Hazm, Yemen, two Houthi militia brigades suffered heavy losses, including prominent commanders who had played crucial roles in recruitment, mobilization, and directing battles. The Iranian support has reportedly been instrumental in the Houthi advances, with some analysts suggesting that without this assistance, the rebels could not have expanded their reach as far as they have.

The strategic importance of the Red Sea coast gains for the Houthis is highlighted, as it leaves them exposed. The battle for Bab al-Mandab is deemed crucial, as Yemen's Houthi movement has intensified efforts to gain full control over the region. Reports from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to India mention China, India, and Russia as potential key players in ending the Iran war.