Iran’s Revolutionary Guards provided direct guidance to Houthi forces during their rapid advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast this week, according to Yemeni government, Iranian and regional sources.

The sources said Tehran sought to help the Houthis open a new front in the wider conflict involving Iran and the United States.

The Houthis’ seizure of the southwestern port city of Mocha has strengthened their position near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The strategic waterway links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and remains important for global shipping and energy supplies.

The development comes as regional tensions continue to disrupt major maritime routes. Iran has also imposed restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz, another critical energy corridor.

Iran Urges Houthis to Escalate Attacks

Two Iranian sources said Tehran told the Houthis last week to increase attacks on Saudi Arabia.

They said Iran also promised additional funding, weapons and senior military officers to support the group.

Iran describes the Houthis as an ally. However, Tehran publicly denies directing their military operations and says the group is not an Iranian “proxy”.

A regional diplomat briefed by Tehran said several senior Revolutionary Guards commanders had travelled to Yemen. The commanders reportedly helped oversee Houthi operations against Saudi Arabia after weeks of military discussions.

A third Iranian source, described as an official, offered a different account. The official said Iran had held meetings with regional allies, including the Houthis, but said the decision to move on Mocha came from the Houthis themselves.

The official added that the operation still benefited Iran by putting upward pressure on oil prices and increasing pressure on the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Houthi Offensive Strengthens Position Near Bab el-Mandeb

Five military sources from Yemen’s Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government said Revolutionary Guards officers directed the latest Houthi campaign along the Red Sea coast.

The offensive began with heavy rocket fire across the Tihama, a narrow coastal plain in western Yemen, the sources said.

The Yemeni military sources cited communications intercepts and accounts from captured Houthi fighters. They said they believed Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Abdolreza Shahlaei was directing the operation.

Iranian sources did not immediately confirm Shahlaei’s involvement. They have previously said the senior commander, who serves in the Guards’ Qods Force, spent time in Yemen in recent years.

The Iranian sources also said the Revolutionary Guards continued to move weapons and personnel into and out of Houthi-controlled areas despite an aerial and maritime blockade.

Ahmed Nagi, a Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group, said the capture of Mocha represented a significant development.

He said the latest offensive appeared to reflect longer-term Houthi preparations rather than a campaign planned only in recent weeks.

Nagi also pointed to the Houthis’ growing use of drones. He said the group had acquired new weapons through Iranian support and smuggling networks.

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Saudi Arabia Limits Direct Air Strikes

As Houthi forces advanced towards Mocha, Yemen’s government requested additional Saudi air support, according to two Yemeni officials.

The officials said the government wanted Saudi Arabia to strike Houthi targets in the group’s strongholds. These included Sanaa and strategic sites such as oil depots.

However, Saudi Arabia largely limited its support to logistics, weapons and intelligence, according to the officials.

The Kingdom carried out only limited air strikes. Those attacks focused mainly on northern fronts in Jawf and Marib provinces.

The Yemeni officials said Riyadh appeared reluctant to trigger a major escalation with the Houthis. They said Saudi authorities feared that a wider campaign could lead to heavier drone attacks on Saudi territory.

Saudi officials did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment on the reported military strategy.

Yemen’s Military Situation Remains Uncertain

The wider military situation in Yemen remains difficult to assess after several years of reduced fighting.

A ceasefire in 2022 brought a long pause in major hostilities. However, Iran and Saudi Arabia have continued to support rival forces in Yemen.

The internationally recognised government’s coalition has also faced internal divisions.

Previous fighting along the Tihama coast produced sudden advances and retreats. Analysts therefore remain uncertain about whether Saudi-backed forces can push the Houthis back from their latest gains.

Nagi said government forces could make progress if they receive sufficient Saudi support. However, he warned that reversing the Houthi advance could prove more difficult this time.

The seizure of Mocha could therefore mark an important shift in the balance of power along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, particularly if the Houthis consolidate their position near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.