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Yemen Accuses Iran’s Revolutionary Guard of Managing Houthi Military, Security Units

The Houthis exploited the war in Gaza to recruit tens of thousands of fighters (AFP)
The Houthis exploited the war in Gaza to recruit tens of thousands of fighters (AFP)
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Yemen Accuses Iran’s Revolutionary Guard of Managing Houthi Military, Security Units

The Houthis exploited the war in Gaza to recruit tens of thousands of fighters (AFP)
The Houthis exploited the war in Gaza to recruit tens of thousands of fighters (AFP)

Sources familiar with the situation in the Houthi-run Yemeni capital, Sanaa, report that Iranian Revolutionary Guard representatives have strengthened their control over all Houthi military and intelligence units, now exercising authority over all decisions.
Concurrently, they are forming sectarian-aligned combat units similar to those found in Iran.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat under conditions of anonymity, the sources clarified that recent arrest operations by Houthis were supervised by Revolutionary Guard elements.
The recent wave of arrests targeted numerous UN and international humanitarian staff, along with former US embassy employees.
It also marked the first time that members from the Houthi group itself were included.
Sources indicate a purge within Houthi intelligence, known as the “Security and Intelligence Apparatus,” and the internal “Preventive Security,” aiming to remove disloyal or ideologically questionable individuals from key administrative, security, and military positions, even within the Houthi ranks.
During the takeover of Sanaa, Houthis enlisted non-ideological personnel who had previously worked in government institutions or local and international organizations.
However, sources confirm that their role is now obsolete.
According to sources, some Houthi members who had served the insurgency for years are now being excluded.
Reasons cited include not being from Saada province or being deemed disloyal to Abdul-Malik al-Houthi’s leadership or suspicious of their sectarian beliefs.
Yemeni sources also revealed that Iranian Revolutionary Guard units, who previously controlled military operations, especially regarding ballistic missiles and drone production facilities, have recently expanded their influence to dominate the entire Houthi security scene.
These units allegedly exploited the Israeli conflict in Gaza to instruct the Houthis to recruit thousands of teenagers from summer camps and sectarian schools, along with graduates of cultural programs.
They were misled into believing they were being trained to fight in Palestine.
According to sources, the purpose of this operation is to create military units modeled after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. These units would swear absolute loyalty to the Houthi leader, viewing him as the chosen ruler by divine mandate.

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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.