Iran Expands Proxy Network to Target U.S. Allies in Gulf, Officials Warn
Iran's growing proxy network threatens Gulf allies as Houthi attacks escalate. New coordination with Iraqi militias raises regional tensions.
POLICY WIRE — Cairo, Egypt — Regional intelligence sources have revealed a deepening alliance between Iran-backed groups and the Houthis, raising concerns over escalating threats to U.S. allies in the Gulf. The collaboration has been linked to recent drone strikes on Saudi oil facilities, which were attributed to Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Saudi Arabia and the United States conducted airstrikes in July against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq following claims that these groups were responsible for drone attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. Intelligence from multiple officials indicates that the Houthis played a role in planning and executing the attack, signaling a new level of operational coordination between the two factions.
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Iran has long cultivated militant networks along Israel’s borders, but after major losses during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, the country has shifted focus toward using its allies in Iraq and Yemen to pressure Gulf states. This strategy aims to increase the financial and strategic costs of the ongoing conflict involving the U.S. and Israel.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
