The United States is concerned that Russia could supply missiles to Yemen’s Houthis, which could further escalate the conflict in the Middle East. Bloomberg reports this referring to a US official.
“This is what worries us. “Any arms cooperation between the Houthis and the Russians would be very destabilizing.” — the US special envoy for Yemen told the agency Tim Lenderking.
This is how he commented on the message that Russia is negotiating the supply of modern Yakhont anti-ship missiles to the Houthis.
The Houthis’ continued attacks on shipping in the Red Sea are undermining efforts to reach a permanent peace deal in Yemen, the special envoy said.
“This is not consistent with being a partner in peace,” Lenderking stressed.
Representatives of Russia and the Houthis have held at least two meetings in Tehran this year and more talks are planned, Reuters reported last week, citing two regional officials.
The P-800 “Yakhont” (“Onyx”) is a supersonic anti-ship missile with a flight range of 300 km. Access to such weapons would greatly improve the Houthis’ ability to threaten U.S. and allied warships patrolling the area while also allowing the group to fire at ground targets in Saudi Arabia, an expert at the International Intelligence Institute said. Strategic Studies based in London. Fabian Hinz.
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin He previously warned that Moscow could transfer long-range weapons to those who want to attack Western targets if the United States and its allies give kyiv permission to deeply strike Russia with long-range Western missiles.
The Houthis, part of a network of Islamist militant organizations backed by Iran, began attacking shipping in the Red Sea in late 2023 in response to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. The group has not weakened even after the United States and its allies launched deterrent airstrikes and sank a ship for the first time using a maritime drone in June. An increasing number of shipping companies are choosing to send ships on longer routes without passing through the area, and insurance costs have risen sharply.
