Iran’s Revolutionary Guard aiding Houthis in Yemen: U.S. official

In a startling disclosure, a U.S. Navy official revealed on “60 Minutes” that Iranian Revolutionary Guard troops are actively aiding Houthi rebels in Yemen. This assistance has fueled increased attacks on U.S. military assets and shipping vessels in the Red Sea, prompting heightened U.S. counter-measures amid fears of escalating conflict in the Middle East.

U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, in an interview with “60 Minutes” correspondent Norah O’Donnell, confirmed that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps members are on the ground in Yemen, working closely with the rebel group. Their activities include providing advice and targeting information. Cooper highlighted the challenge posed by this partnership, suggesting that how the U.S. responds will be a matter of policy. He emphasized the importance of readiness and aggressiveness in self-defense measures.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, a paramilitary group directly accountable to Iran’s Supreme Leader, has a history of supporting militant groups across the Middle East, according to the State Department, which has designated the Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.

Last month, U.S. officials reclassified the Houthis as a global terrorist group following a surge in attacks on U.S. targets and shipping vessels. These attacks have disrupted trade and increased regional instability. This move came just three years after the Biden administration had removed the terrorist label.

The Houthi rebels, a Shia Islamist group controlling territory in northern Yemen, including the capital Sana’a, are believed to receive significant funding from Iran.

O’Donnell’s interview with Cooper is scheduled to air on “60 Minutes” on Sunday night at 7 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time.

Recent months have seen U.S. forces focus on militant groups in the Middle East and Somalia with ties to Iran. This shift follows a series of attacks on U.S. bases, shipping vessels, and troops. Targets have included the Houthis, who attacked a shipping vessel in the Red Sea late last year; the al-Shabab rebel group in Somalia, which captured a United Nations helicopter and its crew in January; and the Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-aligned militia in Iraq that injured three U.S. troops in December.

British and American forces launched strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen last month, hours after Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi warned that U.S. attacks “won’t go unpunished.” He threatened a “big” response to any military action by the U.S. and its allies. The conflict has escalated further into February, with U.S. forces striking Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and the Red Sea in retaliation for a drone strike on the Tower 22 base in Jordan that killed three American service members last month. Iranian officials reiterated warnings of retaliation against any attack.

U.S. officials have issued warnings in response to escalating incidents with the Houthis. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cautioned last month that there “will be consequences” for further attacks. Officials from the U.S. and 13 other countries have called for an “immediate” halt to the attacks, labeling the seizure of vessels and crews as “illegal, unacceptable, and profoundly destabilizing.” The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution demanding that the rebel group cease its attacks.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, two explosions severely damaged a major natural gas pipeline in Iran, halting gas supply. Iranian officials have called the incident an act of sabotage and terrorism. Iran’s petroleum minister, Javad Owji, did not attribute blame to any specific group.