Europe 1 with AFP // Photo credit: Morteza Nikoubazl / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP 22:56 p.m., December 22, 2023

Iran has been "heavily involved in planning" recent attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, according to the White House National Security Council spokesman. "Iran's support for the Houthis is strong and translates into deliveries of military equipment," he added.

Iran has been "very involved in planning" recent attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the White House National Security Council spokeswoman said Friday. The United States, which has assembled a military coalition to defend maritime traffic in the area, is conducting "intensive consultations with (its) allies and partners" on how to respond to the attacks, Watson said in a statement.

Without Iran's help, Yemeni rebels 'would struggle to spot and strike'

"We have no reason to believe that Iran is trying to deter the Houthis from continuing their irresponsible actions," she added. "Iran's support for the Houthis is strong and translates into deliveries of sophisticated military equipment, intelligence assistance, financial assistance and training," the spokeswoman said, adding that Tehran had "made possible" these attacks while "delegating operational decisions to the Houthis."

Without help from Iran, Yemeni rebels "would have a hard time spotting and hitting" boats in the Red Sea, she said. This wave of attacks, carried out with drones and missiles against ships that the Houthis believe to be "linked to Israel", threatens to disrupt global trade. The main shipping companies have given up using the Bab el-Mandeb Strait for the time being.

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The Houthis, who control much of Yemen but are not recognized by the international community, have repeatedly said they will continue until sufficient supplies of food and medicine enter the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian territory bombed and besieged by Israel, in response to Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israeli territory on October 7.

Iran acknowledges its political support for the Houthis, who have been at war since 2014 with the internationally recognised Yemeni government. But Tehran denies supplying military equipment to the rebels.