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International Assertions About Iran’s Involvement in Arming Houthis

International Assertions About Iran’s Involvement in Arming Houthis

Saturday, 13 January, 2018 - 06:30
Houthi gathering in Sanaa marks 1,000 days of Saudi-led bombing campaign in Yemen on 21 December 2017 (Reuters)

There has been evidence that Iran violated UN Resolution 2216 by providing Houthi militias with arms and munitions, according to a UN experts’ report that showed Tehran’s involvement in Yemen.


The 79-page confidential report, seen on Friday by Asharq Al-Awsat, includes 331 attached papers and will be distributed to UN Security Council state members on January 27.


The findings of the report are expected to enhance accusations launched by US President Donald Trump and his administration against Iran for providing Houthis with weapons, including ballistic missiles.


"The panel has identified missile remnants, related military equipment and military unmanned aerial vehicles that are of Iranian origin and were introduced into Yemen after the imposition of the targeted arms embargo," said the report.


Referring to the Security Council resolution that imposed the arms embargo, it said: "As a result, the panel finds that the Republic of Iran is in non-compliance with paragraph 14 of resolution 2216 in that it failed to take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of missile and unmanned aerial vehicles to the Houthi-Saleh alliance."


The UN experts did not rule out that Iran had sent "advisers" to help the Houthis in their war against the Saudi-led coalition.


In an inspection visit to Saudi Arabia last November, the UN experts found that missile remnants’ features were consistent with those of the Iranian-designed and manufactured Qiam-1 missiles.


“Drones were virtually identical in design to that of an Iranian-made UAV manufactured by the Iranian Aircraft Manufacturing Industries, the report added.


The panel of UN experts also found that Houthis had received more advanced missiles in January 2015, including the Scud C and Hwaseong artillery units,” adding that their use against civilian targets in Saudi Arabia violates the international human rights law.


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