Russia prepared to transfer weapons to Houthis but abandoned its plans - CNN
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Russia had been preparing to transfer missiles and other military equipment to the Houthis in Yemen at the end of July. However, the country abandoned these plans under pressure from the US and Saudi Arabia, reports CNN.
According to two sources, the Saudis, who had waged a brutal war against the Houthis for years before the US helped broker a fragile truce in 2022, warned Russia against supplying weapons to one of their main adversaries upon learning of the plans.
Separately, the US requested Saudi Arabia's assistance in persuading Moscow not to supply arms to the Houthis.
It is noted that while the weapon transfer was postponed, Russia did send its military to Yemen for three days at the end of July to assist the Houthis.
American officials observed personnel disembarking from Russian ships in the southern part of the Red Sea, picked up by Houthi boats and transported to Yemen.
Sources say the Russians brought bags with them, but nothing appeared large enough to transport weapons or their components. It remains unclear whether the Russian ships carried any equipment that Russia had prepared to transfer before Moscow abandoned the plan.
CNN sources added that Moscow views arming and advising the Houthis as a way to retaliate against the Biden administration for allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory using US-provided weapons.
Recently, the US reported again on the destruction of several Houthi drones in the Red Sea. American forces saw them as an immediate threat, particularly to other vessels.
Earlier, it was reported that on July 24, US forces destroyed three rocket launchers in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.
