Russia has reportedly enlisted hundreds of men from Yemen to join its war in Ukraine, marking a significant expansion of ties between Moscow and the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.

According to a Financial Times report, Yemeni recruits travel to Russia under the guise of employment opportunities with high salaries and promises of Russian citizenship, only to be forcibly drafted into the Russian armed forces and sent to the front lines.

The recruits claim that the Houthi-backed company facilitates their journey to Russia, where they are conscripted into the military. This development underscores the growing cooperation between Russia and the Houthis, who have controlled large portions of Yemen since 2014.

US special envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking, highlighted the increasing alignment between Russia and the Houthis, revealing that discussions are underway regarding the potential transfer of weapons.

"We know that there are Russian personnel in Sanaa helping to deepen this dialogue,” Lenderking told the Financial Times, also raising concerns about the nature of the weapons being discussed. He noted that these arms could significantly enhance the Houthis' ability to target vessels in the Red Sea, potentially extending their reach beyond the region.

In a related development last month, it was reported that Russia had supplied satellite data to assist the Houthis in targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, began targeting ships in the waterway as part of their stated solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza conflict, which was ignited by Hamas's terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.