Rubio accuses Iran of flying IRGC personnel into Yemen as Houthi threat escalates

Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran connected Wednesday of flying members of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps into Yemen, saying Tehran’s actions helped ignite a renewed confrontation betwixt Saudi Arabia and nan Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

"They decided to nonstop direct flights from Tehran into Yemen, carrying IRGC elements and others into nan country," Rubio told reporters. "And nan Saudis responded to it."

Rubio did not place nan flights, specify really galore IRGC unit were allegedly transported aliases supply grounds supporting nan allegation.

RUBIO SAYS US REMAINS OPEN TO IRAN TALKS BUT WARNS THERE 'WILL BE CONSEQUENCES'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a property convention connected nan sidelines of nan Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting successful Pasay, Metro Manila connected July 22, 2026. (Brendan SMIALOWSKI / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

He made nan remarks while attending an yearly gathering of Association of Southeast Asian Nations overseas ministers successful Manila, Philippines, wherever the U.S.-Iran conflict and threats to world shipping were among nan cardinal information concerns.

The Houthis person declared a blockade targeting Saudi-linked vessels successful nan Bab el-Mandeb Strait, threatening to widen nan conflict and disrupt different captious world waste and acquisition route.

The rebels opportunity they are targeting ships connected to Saudi Arabia aliases walking to and from nan kingdom’s Red Sea ports successful retaliation for Saudi restrictions connected Yemen and a caller attack connected nan airport successful nan Houthi-controlled superior of Sanaa.

IRAN-BACKED TERROR PROXY HOUTHIS THREATEN FRESH ATTACKS AFTER YEMEN AIRPORT STRIKE

Oil tankers and cargo ships statement up successful nan Strait of Hormuz arsenic seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia for nan airdrome attack, which they said was intended to extremity a formation carrying Houthi leaders location from Iran. Rubio disputed that relationship and alleged that Tehran was utilizing nonstop flights to carrier IRGC unit and others into Yemen.

The Houthis later launched missiles and drones astatine Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport, marking 1 of nan astir superior confrontations betwixt nan 2 sides successful years.

Rubio said U.S. officials had spoken many times pinch Saudi officials during nan past week astir nan Houthi threat.

IRAN CALLS ON HOUTHIS TO PREPARE TO CUT OFF RED SEA GATEWAY — CAN THE TERROR GROUP DO IT?

"Anything that restricts shipping done nan Red Sea would beryllium problematic for nan aforesaid reasons that nan Strait of Hormuz is problematic," Rubio said. "So we’re watching that closely."

Saudi Arabia’s subject has vowed to support Bab el-Mandeb unfastened and respond firmly to Houthi threats against commercialized vessels utilizing nan waterway.

The constrictive strait connects nan Red Sea to nan Gulf of Aden and serves arsenic a awesome shipping corridor linking Europe and Asia done nan Suez Canal. Around 12% of world waste and acquisition and astir one-quarter of worldwide instrumentality postulation usually walk done nan route.

Its value has grown arsenic nan U.S.-Iran conflict has sharply curtailed shipping done nan Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia has progressively relied connected Red Sea export routes to carrier lipid to world markets.

A Houthi follower looks on, during a pro-Iran demonstration, arsenic nan U.S.-Israel conflict pinch Iran continues, successful Sanaa, Yemen April 6, 2026. (Khaled Abdullah/Reuters)

The Houthi-run SABA news agency claimed six vessels had altered people aft receiving warnings from nan group, a declare that could not beryllium independently verified.

The Houthis opportunity nan blockade is constricted to Saudi-linked shipping. During their earlier run connected to nan warfare successful Gaza, however, nan rebels attacked much than 100 vessels, including ships pinch small aliases nary evident relationship to Israel.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that nan latest Houthi threat had not materialized.

"So far, it hasn’t happened," Trump told reporters. "I deliberation that if location is thing for illustration that, we’ll conscionable person to return attraction of business."

Rubio’s accusation came arsenic nan U.S. subject carried retired an 11th consecutive nighttime of strikes against targets successful Iran. U.S. Central Command said nan latest targets included craft hangars and drone retention sites.

Speaking to Southeast Asian leaders, Rubio besides warned that allowing Iran to power nan Strait of Hormuz, cod tolls and onslaught ships that refused to comply would group a vulnerable precedent for world waterways astir nan world.

"If we create a precedent successful nan Middle East wherever a federation authorities tin determine that they are going to power an world waterway, complaint a toll and if you don’t salary them rustle up your ships, we person created a very vulnerable precedent which will repetition itself successful different parts of nan world, including successful this region," Rubio said.

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Rubio said Iran’s support for nan Houthis reflects a broader shape of backing equipped groups crossed nan Middle East.

"The Houthis, Hezbollah, nan militias successful Iraq, Hamas — this is what Iran spends its money on," Rubio said. "It’s not connected its people. It’s connected supporting violent organizations and destabilizing actors successful nan region."