WSJ: Russia backs Houthi rebels with satellite data

Russia reportedly supplied Yemen's Houthi rebels with targeting information to support missile and drone attacks on Western vessels in the Red Sea earlier this year.

The attacks targeted a critical global trade route, exacerbating instability in the region, Caliber.Az reports via The Wall Street Journal.

According to an individual familiar with the events and two European defence officials, the Houthis utilised Russian satellite data to extend their operations, with the information channelled through members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps embedded with the Houthis in Yemen.

This assistance, not previously disclosed, highlights the extent of Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions to counterbalance the Western-led political and economic order. In this case, Russia backed the Houthis, a group designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States, in a series of attacks along one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.

Analysts note that Russia's wider strategy appears to be the creation of geopolitical challenges for the United States, with Moscow stirring tensions from the Middle East to Asia. The recent escalation in the Middle East, initiated by last year’s October 7 attack on Israel, has since diverted resources and attention from Washington's focus on the threats posed by Russia and China.

“Any global unrest is a positive for Russia, as it detracts from the world's attention on Ukraine and requires the US to redeploy resources—whether in the form of Patriot missile systems or artillery shells,” said Alexander Gabuev, head of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre in Berlin. “With the Middle East in turmoil, the US must prioritise, and it’s clear where the focus will lie.”

Russian officials and a Houthi spokesperson both declined to comment.

Notably, Moscow has increasingly turned to military partnerships with autocratic states, including Iran and North Korea, to support its Ukraine campaign. These countries have supplied Russia with ammunition, drones, and missiles, while North Korea has reportedly dispatched 3,000 troops for training in Russia, according to US and South Korean sources.

These alliances have allowed Russia to mitigate its shortages in both manpower and materiel while also serving its broader strategic objectives. South Korea, a major US ally in East Asia and a significant weapons manufacturer, has voiced concerns that North Korean troops gaining experience in Ukraine could pose a future security threat.

While Seoul has thus far avoided sending arms directly to Ukraine, it has supplied weapons to Ukraine-supporting nations and indicated a potential policy shift if North Korea’s involvement escalates.

By Aghakazim Guliyev