Following the gains of the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen, an official in the Iranian Army says that Iran’s borders reach today the capital of Yemen, Sanaa.
Brigadier General Baqir Zada said in a press conference (Arabic link):
“Iran’s Borders don’t reach only the Shalamja region – the border area between Al-Ahwaz and Iraq – but to the Yemeni capital Sanaa.”
“The Houthis victory in Yemen was not an easy victory. This is not a normal routine event in the region, but this is a historic victory for the Iranian Islamic revolution.”
Zada also took the opportunity to attack the Gulf states and other Arab countries:
“The options of the Gulf states against Iran’s plan were reduced. There is no longer Saddam in Iraq or Bin Laden in Afghanistan. Iran can reach places which Arab leaders never dreamed of them, through the effect it has on the Islamic peoples rebelling against oppression in the Islamic world.”
Iranian opposition activist Habib al-Ka’abi told the news site Arabs21 (Arabic link) that Zada’s statement reflects Iran’s imperial ambitions in the Arab world. According to al-Ka’abi, this statement shows that a spread to Yemen, Iraq and Syria is a priority of the Revolutionary Guards.
Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and his government resigned last Thursday in the face of attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. A few hours before, the Shiite militia had stormed and seized Hadi’s offices at the presidential palace and attacked his residence. At least 30 people were killed in the clashes between the two sides. This deepening turmoil left the Shiite rebels in effective control of the country.