UAE tables evidence of Iran involvement in Yemen

Even as the Arab coalition is making advances in the Houthi-controlled Red Sea port city of Hodeida, the UAE army has tabled fresh evidence showing Iran's hand in supplying arms to the rebels.

Iranian-made anti-tank missiles, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), sniper rifles, land mines and other advanced weaponry used by the Houthis against the Arab coalition in Yemen were presented during a Press briefing in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, proving that Iran is fighting a proxy war.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the UAE has examined the evidence and tabled a report at the UN Security Council as proof of "external support" to the Houthi rebels.

"The samples of the advanced weapons used by Houthis reiterate the Iranian influence and support to them. Both the UAE and our partners like Saudi Arabia have found similar evidence in Yemen. We are working within the international framework and have submitted a detailed report to an expert panel of the security council," said the ministry official. He said the more than 500 ballistic missiles Houthis fired at Saudi Arabia was further proof of Iranian meddling in Yemen.

Though Iran has long denied supporting the Houthis, the evidence tabled by the UAE is fresh proof that Iran is arming and training the group against Yemen's legitimate government.

Evidence tabled by the UAE included remnants of two Iranian model UAVs named Qasef retrieved from Yemen. Explaining the make of the weapons, a UAE army official said one of the models is a sophisticated version that was retrieved as recently as April this year, and its cables were Iran-made.

Another UAV used by the Houthis resembled the Iranian UAV Jamroosh, according to the official.

Some of the exhibits were proof that the land and sea mines used by the rebels were supplied by Iran, as their electronic sensors had the name of Iranian companies encrypted.

The official said the rebels had also learned the technology to locally manufacture IEDs (improvised explosive devices) like anti-personal mines and EFPs (explosively formed penetrators) from Iran. "Some of them are professionally integrated weapon systems, again showing the transfer of technology by Iran."

A recent report by the Conflict Armament Research (CAR) said EFPs captured in Yemen bore all characteristics of the most advanced arrays that Hezbollah deployed for years and gave to Iraqi militias.

The UAE has also retrieved evidence that the suicide boat attacks carried out by the Houthis on coalition army's navigation route also had Iranian backing.

"We have evidence that proves both the hardware and software used by Houthis, the camera system and the drone boat laden with explosives are part of an integrated weapons system provided by Iran.

"For a non-state player like the Houthis to get such advanced weapons like maritime mines and anti-tanks guided missiles is clear evidence of Iranian support. And further evidence of Iran's role lies in the fact that many of the components we retrieved were previously found in other countries like Iraq and Bahrain."

Changing tactics

The army official said the Houthi tactics are changing and evolving as compared to the beginning of the Yemen conflict that escalated in 2015, when the rebels seized control of the western part of the country, including the capital Sanaa, and forced President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to flee to Riyadh.

"They are using more sophisticated mines and ATGMs (anti-tank guided missiles.) But the UAE forces are taking it seriously and our troops and allies are capable of dealing with the improvised weapons. But if it is used against civilian targets like children or residents, it will have a catastrophic effect."

The army official said the Houthis are making no distinction between civilians and military targets and have laid mines in many public places. "We have so far cleared between 20,000 and 30,000 land mines in Yemen."

Reiterating the UAE's position on Yemen, a foreign affairs ministry spokesperson said all options have been explored to bring the Houthis to the table and to end the war.

"All our partners are working towards one objective, which is it protect lives, to end the war and bring stability to the region."

Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, had said on Monday that Houthi rebels should surrender unconditionally to end the war.

anjana@khaleejtimes.com

• MENA

Anjana Sankar

anjana@khaleejtimes.com