The White House said the Iranian government is providing weapons and tactical information to Yemeni rebels.
The United States has accused Iran of being “deeply involved” in attacks by the Houthis on commercial ships in the Red Sea.
The White House announced Friday that Tehran’s support for Yemeni rebels includes both weapons and tactical intelligence, presenting newly declassified information as pointing to Iranian involvement in the attack.
“We know that Iran was deeply involved in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea,” White House national security spokesperson Adrian Watson said in a statement.
“This is consistent with Iran’s long-term material support and encouragement of the Houthis’ destabilizing actions in the region.”
“This is an international challenge that requires collective action,” Watson said.
The White House said visual analysis showed nearly identical characteristics between Iran’s KAS-04 drone and unmanned vehicles used by the Houthis, as well as consistent characteristics between Iranian and Houthi missiles. announced that it was shown.
Al Jazeera could not independently verify the White House’s claims.
The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, have launched dozens of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea in a show of support for Palestinians facing Israeli shelling in Gaza. Ta.
The attack forced cargo companies to sail through Africa, creating costs and delays in the delivery of energy, food and consumer goods, effectively altering much of global trade.
More than a dozen shipping companies, including major Mediterranean shipping lines from Italy and Switzerland, France’s CMA CGM and Denmark’s AP Moller-Maersk, have suspended shipping through the Red Sea due to the attack.
Earlier this week, the US government announced the creation of a multinational force involving more than 20 countries to protect ships transiting the Red Sea.
Last week, a US guided missile destroyer shot down 14 attack drones believed to have been launched from Yemen’s Houthi-held territory.
Houthi leaders have warned that they will fight back if “American battleships” and “American interests” are attacked.
The Iranian government says it supports the Houthis politically but denies sending weapons to the group.
Last month, Iran’s foreign ministry rejected Israeli accusations that the Houthis were acting on its guidance when they seized an Israeli-owned ship and denied responsibility for the downing of a drone by a U.S. guided-missile destroyer.
The Houthis have maintained a de facto ceasefire brokered by the Saudi-backed government and the United Nations since last year, but in 2014 they rose up against Yemen’s government, sparking a devastating civil war.