Yemen : 75 Iranian Military Experts Deployed to Houthi-Controlled Areas Since 2025
Sana’a — 75 Iranian military experts and advisers have arrived in Houthi-controlled territories of Yemen between mid-2025 and July 2026, in what sources described as a coordinated effort to strengthen the group’s military and intelligence capabilities, particularly in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.
According to the sources, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) assigned specialized military and logistical tasks to the experts, including managing naval operations, advancing missile and drone systems, and enhancing the Houthis’ ability to evade regional and international surveillance.
The latest contingent reportedly included 25 Iranian officers, led by diplomat and strategic adviser Mohammad Jalal Firouznia, accompanied by six aides.
They arrived at Hodeidah airport on July 13 aboard a Mahan Air flight diverted from Sana’a after Yemeni airstrikes targeted the capital’s airport, before being transported by land to the capital.
Firouznia’s presence, given his diplomatic and strategic background, was seen as a sign of the elevated mission entrusted to the group, extending beyond technical support to operational planning and coordination.
The experts’ primary tasks, sources said, revolve around overseeing Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab operations amid escalating maritime confrontations and attacks on vessels. Their mission includes upgrading command centers, refining battlefield planning, and deploying advanced technologies for intelligence coordination.
Other responsibilities include strengthening deterrence capabilities, improving ballistic missile targeting and launch tactics, enhancing drone performance, and developing remote-controlled boats and naval mines.
The team is also working on intelligence and tactical measures to help the Houthis evade aerial and maritime surveillance imposed on Yemeni airspace and ports.
The deployment underscores Iran’s deepening involvement in Yemen’s conflict, with implications for regional security and international shipping routes through one of the world’s most strategic waterways.