Russia wanted to transfer weapons to Yemeni Houthis, but changed its mind — CNN

Russia was preparing to supply missiles and other military equipment to the Houthi rebels in Yemen at the end of July, but at the last minute abandoned it amid behind-the-scenes attempts by the United States and Saudi Arabia prevented this. This is reported by CNN with reference to several sources.

The Saudis, who waged a brutal war with the Houthis for years before the United States helped negotiate a fragile truce in 2022, warned Russia against arming one of its main opponents, the sources said. The US, which has undertaken diplomatic efforts to prevent the Russians from arming the rebels, separately asked the Saudis to help convince Moscow not to transfer weapons, two sources said.

And although the transfer of weapons was suspended, Russia, according to sources, sent its military to Yemen to provide advice to the Houthis "during a three-day period at the end of July."

US officials watched as large Russian ships made an unusual stop in the southern part of the Red Sea, where Russian personnel disembarked, were picked up by the Houthis by boat and transported to Yemen, the sources said. According to sources, the Russians had bags with them, but nothing big enough to transport weapons or weapon components. It is unclear whether the Russian ships transported the equipment that Russia was preparing to transfer to the Houthis before the Kremlin abandoned this plan," Yahoo quoted CNN as saying.

The Russians viewed arming and advising the Houthis as a way to retaliate against the Biden administration for its decision to allow Ukraine to strike at Russian territory using weapons transferred by the United States, the officials stressed.