Iran’s Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh may have revealed more than he intended when he acknowledged that Tehran has built military factories abroad.
Evidence has long shown that Iran transfers missile and drone technology into Houthi-controlled areas such as Saada, Hajjah, and the outskirts of Sanaa, according to an opinion published by The Media Line.
Steven Ganot, the author of the opinion added “As Iranian facilities at home come under pressure from strikes and sanctions, the Houthis have become Tehran’s forward base, testing ground, and surrogate force.
Even more troubling, a Minister with the internationally recognized government of Yemen points to reports of chemical and possibly biological materials being smuggled into Houthi-held territories. Such a development would put banned weapons in the hands of a group already destabilizing Yemen and threatening its neighbors.
The consequences are global, according to Ganot who concluded “With their proximity to the Bab el Mandeb Strait—one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints—the Houthis hold a potential stranglehold over international trade and energy flows. Their growth mirrors Hezbollah’s rise in Lebanon, with geography amplifying the danger.