Iran removes troops from Yemen amid escalation with US
- 3 April, 12:19
Iran has ordered its military personnel to leave Yemen, abandoning Houthi militants amid escalation of tension between Tehran and Washington, British media reported on April 3. British Telegraph publication cited unnamed senior Iranian official as saying that the move was aimed at avoiding direct confrontation with the US.
“Every meeting is dominated by discussions about him, and none of the regional groups we previously supported are being discussed,” the source told Telegraph, stressing that handling of Donald Trump’s administration was Tehran’s major concern.
Iran is major sponsor of Houthi militant group that has been the target of nearly-daily US attacks in the Red Sea. On March 15, US President Donald Trump ordered the first wave of large-scale attacks on Houthi facilities in Yemen aimed at ending Houthi attacks on commercial vessels and warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Earlier, a Pentagon spokesman said more warplanes would be sent to the region, without providing specific details. Houthi militant have been saying they have been striking US warships in the Red Sea.
The source within the Iranian government said: “The view here [in Tehran] is that the Houthis will not be able to survive and are living their final months or even days, so there is no point in keeping them on our list.”
Tehran’s decision to abandoned its Houthi allies follows Trump’s stark warning to Iran. In his first response to Tehran’s decision not to engage in direct talks with the US over its nuclear program, Trump threatened to bomb Iran.
