Russia Provided Houthi With Satellite Data to Target Red Sea Trade Routes, WSJ Reports

Russia reportedly supplied satellite data to Yemen’s Houthi rebels to help target Western ships in the Red Sea with missiles and drones, disrupting global trade and further destabilizing the region, according to The Wall Street Journal on October 24.

This information was shared by members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) embedded with Houthi forces in Yemen, according to sources familiar with the matter and two European defense officials, The WSJ wrote.

The IRGC used Russian data to assist Houthis in strikes along one of the busiest shipping routes, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean.

“For Russia, any flare up anywhere is good news, because it takes the world’s attention further away from Ukraine and the US needs to commit resources—Patriot systems or artillery shells—and with the Middle East in play, it’s clear where the US will choose,” said Alexander Gabuev, director of Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, a think tank based in Berlin.

Since November 2023, Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea have intensified, resulting in the sinking of two ships and the hijacking of another.

These strikes forced some tankers to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, a longer and costlier journey, disrupting the global oil supply chain.

In August 2024, tanker traffic through Bab al-Mandab dropped by 77% compared to October 2023, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward.

The US responded by forming a multinational naval coalition in December to protect shipping lanes, spending approximately $1 billion by April 2024 on munitions and defense systems to counter Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

Earlier, Iran was reportedly hosting secret negotiations between Russia and Houthi movement from Yemen regarding the transfer of Russian supersonic anti-ship missiles.