(MENAFN- Arab Times) The United States is increasingly concerned about training by Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards for the Houthi rebels in Yemen, where the Shiite militias continue to make territorial gains despite airstrikes by neighboring Saudi Arabia. US officials said Tehran's direct involvement with the Houthis was limited but that US intelligence assessments had concluded that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel were training and equipping Houthi units.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss security matters, expressed concern that the IRGC's mission could include training the Houthis to use advanced weaponry they acquired after seizing Yemeni military bases.
Saudi Arabia, which launched aerial bombardments of Houthi forces this week, has said the militia was receiving extensive backing from Iran, the kingdom's regional rival. "We see ... Iran playing a large role in supporting the Houthis," Saudi ambassador to Washington Adel al-Jubeir told reporters on Thursday. "There are Iranian advisers advising them and Hezbollah operatives advising them," Jubeir said. Lebanon-based Hezbollah is closely allied with Tehran. Asked about Jubeir's accusations on Friday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters: "We've expressed our previous concerns about the destabilizing impact that Iran is having on this particular situation. We continue to have those concerns."
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