Four informed sources told Reuters on Thursday that Iran sent Revolutionary Guard commanders and military advisers, along with shipments of missile and drone equipment, to Yemen during July, in a step indicating efforts to boost the Houthi group’s ability to threaten international navigation in the Red Sea.

The sources, which include two Iranian sources, Yemen’s information minister, and a regional security analyst, said that Tehran transported members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, in addition to military equipment, on a plane that departed from the Iranian capital Tehran to Yemen on July 13, in a previously undisclosed operation.

According to the sources, this move is part of Iran’s support for its Houthi allies and enhancing their military capabilities, particularly in the field of missiles and drones, thereby increasing their ability to target navigation in the Red Sea, one of the most important global trade routes.

The two Iranian sources told Reuters that the flight operated by Mahan Air carried between 10 and 21 Revolutionary Guard members, including senior commanders.

The plane’s intended destination was initially the capital Sanaa, which is under Houthi control, but its destination was changed to the port of Hodeidah on the Red Sea after the airport was attacked by the Yemeni government.

One source said, 'Revolutionary Guard commanders traveled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems,' indicating that Iran also sent a quantity of gold on the plane to finance Houthi activities.

The two Iranian sources requested anonymity due to security concerns.

Iran’s sending of this support provides new evidence of Tehran’s efforts to back the Houthis, who have been at war with the internationally recognized Yemeni government for more than a decade and have previously carried out missile and drone attacks in the region.

This comes at a time when the Red Sea is witnessing rising tensions, with continued Houthi attacks on commercial and military ships, which has prompted the United States and other countries to intensify their military operations to protect international navigation in the area.