Western and regional security officials revealed that Iranian paramilitary forces are providing real-time intelligence to the Houthis in Yemen, who are using it to guide drones and missiles to target ships passing through the Red Sea, according to the *Wall Street Journal*. The newspaper quoted officials as saying that tracking information collected by an Iranian paramilitary spy ship in the Red Sea is being relayed to the Houthis, where it has been used to attack commercial vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait in recent days. Officials noted that many ships traversing the strait have turned off their communication devices to avoid being tracked online, but an Iranian ship stationed in the Red Sea enables Houthis' drones and missiles to accurately target vessels.
A Western security official told the newspaper that "the Houthis do not possess the radar technology to target ships," adding that they "require Iranian assistance, and without it, the missiles would fall into the water."
### Washington's Official Stance
The White House stated that Iran is "heavily involved" in planning operations against commercial ships in the Red Sea and that the intelligence it possesses is critical for assisting the Houthis in targeting vessels. Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said in a statement, "We have no reason to believe that Iran is trying to deter the Houthis from this reckless behavior."
Earlier today, Lael Brainard, director of the White House National Economic Council, noted that President Joe Biden's national security team is closely monitoring the situation in the Red Sea, where the Houthis are attacking commercial ships. She added, according to Reuters, that the team does not expect, however, that rerouting ships from the Suez Canal will impact the availability of products for holiday shopping. She informed reporters that the U.S. economy has demonstrated resilience with inflation declining faster than even the most optimistic forecasts, and growth has remained strong.
However, she added that the U.S. administration will remain alert to risks including geopolitical issues such as the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine, potential disruptions in grain markets, and developments in the Red Sea. Western officials reported that Israeli mines had previously destroyed an Iranian spy ship also stationed in the Red Sea in 2021, which has now been replaced by a ship that is currently assisting the Houthis.
### Operation Prosperity Guardian
The United States launched "Operation Prosperity Guardian" this week, stating that more than 12 countries have agreed to participate in an effort that will include joint patrols in the Red Sea waters near Yemen. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Defense stated that a total of more than 20 countries agreed to take part in the new coalition led by the United States to protect maritime trade in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks.
The crisis in the Red Sea has worsened with the escalation of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, where the Houthis and the Lebanese Hezbollah have fired missiles at Israel since the conflict began on October 7. The Houthis intensified their attacks in the Red Sea, threatening to target all ships heading to Israel and warning shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.
The attacks disrupted a major trade route linking Europe and North America to Asia through the Suez Canal, causing shipping container costs to rise sharply as companies sought to ship their goods via often longer alternative routes. The U.S., British, and French navies reported shooting down drones and missiles launched by the Houthis.
