Media: Iran abandons Houthi allies amid escalating US strikes

Iran has instructed its military personnel to withdraw from Yemen, marking a significant shift in Tehran's support for the Houthi rebel group, as the United States intensifies airstrikes against the insurgents.

According to a senior Iranian official, the decision is aimed at avoiding direct confrontation with the US, particularly to prevent any casualties among Iranian soldiers, Caliber.Az reports per The Telegraph.

The official revealed that Tehran is scaling back its broader regional proxy network, focusing instead on managing the escalating threats posed by the US. The priority for Iranian leadership, the official stated, is dealing with former US President Donald Trump, whose administration’s aggressive stance has dominated recent diplomatic discussions in Tehran.

The US airstrike campaign against the Houthis has been relentless, particularly following the leak of internal messages from Trump’s officials, which discussed the intensifying offensive. The strikes, which Trump has hailed as “unbelievably successful,” have targeted key military installations and resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Houthi commanders.

Pentagon spokespersons have confirmed that additional warplanes will be deployed to the region, although specifics on the aircraft and their timing were not disclosed. The US 124th Fighter Wing has already sent several A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft and 300 airmen to the Middle East to bolster operations. Additionally, Russia is believed to be advising the Houthis on tactics aimed at avoiding retaliation from Saudi Arabia, which has also launched its own air strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen.

Despite the Houthis’ claims of attacking US warships in the Red Sea, no ships have been hit. The US Navy reported that the fire from the rebels was the heaviest it had encountered since World War II. The USS Carl Vinson, which is stationed in Asia, is en route to join the USS Harry S Truman in the region.

An Iranian regime source stated that the Houthis are expected to collapse soon, with little to gain by continuing support for them. The source likened the Houthis’ role to a weakened chain of influence, which once included Hezbollah and the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but is now largely in disarray.

The Trump administration’s strategy in the Middle East has been markedly different from that of President Joe Biden’s tenure, with a heavier focus on military pressure and direct action against Iranian-backed groups. Sanam Vakil, Middle East expert at Chatham House, noted that the increased strikes are part of Trump’s effort to demonstrate his effectiveness in resolving conflicts compared to Biden’s approach, with an emphasis on pressuring Tehran to negotiate its nuclear program.

Yemeni diplomat Mahmoud Shehrah commented that the US had previously misjudged the Houthi threat but now considers them a major player in the region, citing their increasingly sophisticated weaponry and aggressive tactics. The Houthis, who have seized control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, have bolstered their image as key regional actors, with ambitions extending beyond Yemen’s borders.

While Hezbollah and Hamas have suffered significant losses, the Houthis have emerged as Iran’s most potent proxy in the region, largely due to their strategic position in Yemen’s mountainous terrain, which offers concealment for their missile and drone stockpiles. Despite their increasing capabilities, Shehrah warned that the Houthis remain vulnerable, lacking a strong domestic support base, and their reliance on the ongoing Gaza conflict underscores their fragile position.

By Aghakazim Guliyev