Yemen takes Syria’s place in Iran’s security doctrine, says former commander

Yemen has replaced Syria in Iran's security doctrine after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, according to Hossein Allahkaram, a former IRGC commander and one of the founders of the paramilitary force Ansar-e Hezbollah.

"Simply put, Syria served as a kind of backbone and connector for the axis of resistance, playing an unparalleled role in any potential offensive against the northern front of Palestine. However, within the framework of the strategic ideology, this role has now been transferred to Yemen following the loss of Syria," he said.

Iran-backed militias in the region have become weaker as Israel has launched attacks on Hamas and Hezbollah, both part of what Iran calls the Resistance Axis. Meanwhile, the Houthis in Yemen have escalated their attacks. Since October 7, they have fired drones and missiles almost daily toward Israel, describing these actions as solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. They have also made commercial traffic unsafe in the Red Sea by targeting vessels moving to or from the Suez Canal.

In September, Iran International reported that approximately 300 Palestinian and Yemeni fighters were undergoing military training inside Iran, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Last week, the United Nations Security Council warned Iran against further escalations by the Houthis, the Tehran-allied armed group in Yemen.