Russia provides Houthis with satellite data to attack merchant ships in Red Sea

The Wall Street Journal reports this with reference to sources, including representatives of the European defense ministries.

Two sources claim that Russian satellite data helped the Houthis expand their attacks. It is noted that the data was transmitted through Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The Houthi attacks have disrupted global trade, as shippers have had to reroute vessels on a longer and more costly path around Africa.

The Wall Street Journal writes that Russia’s assistance to the Houthis demonstrates how far Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is willing to go to undermine the U.S.-led Western economic and political order. By April 2024, the U.S. had spent about a billion dollars on destroying Houthi drones and missiles and securing navigation in the Red Sea. Washington also deployed B-2 Spirit bombers to the region to strike Houthi arsenals.

The Houthis began attacking Western vessels in the Red Sea after the outbreak of war between Israel and the pro-Palestinian group Hamas late last year. Since November 2023, the Houthis have fired on more than 100 vessels, sinking two of them and capturing one.

• The United States is concerned that Russia may be supplying missiles to the Houthis in Yemen. In their view, this could spark further unrest in the Middle East by strengthening the militants.