Russia has lost hundreds of Yemeni mercenaries after companies linked to the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist group tricked them into traveling to Moscow, where they were forced to join the Russian army, according to a report. was sent to fight in Ukraine.
Some of the recruits claimed to have been approached in July by Al-Jabri, a company founded by prominent Houthi politician Abdulwali Abd Hassan al-Jabri, with the promise of securing a new life in Russia. . Financial Times coverage.
In exchange, the men were reportedly forced to sign illegible enlistment contracts and sent to the front lines as part of growing ties between the Kremlin and the Houthi rebels.
One recruit, identified only as Nabil, told the FT that he was just one of about 200 Yemenis forced into the Russian army in September, many of whom had no military training at all. He pointed out that he had not received it.
Nabil said he joined Al Jabri, which is registered as a tour operator and retailer, because he was hoping to secure a job in security or engineering to help fund his studies in his hometown.
A month later, he found himself thrown into the front lines, wearing a Russian military uniform and hiding in the woods from Ukrainian counterattacks.
Some told the outlet that they were promised a monthly salary of $2,000 and a $10,000 bonus to work in a Russian manufacturing plant, but were forced at gunpoint to join the army when they arrived in Moscow.
Representatives for Al Jabri and his company were not immediately available for comment.
Gulf region expert Faleah al-Muslimi said Western intelligence claims the Kremlin has killed or wounded 700,000 Russians since the invasion began in 2022, and that Russia is replenishing its front-line troops. He said it was clear that there was a need to do so.
The situation has only gotten worse for Russia recently, with officials claiming they lost an average of 1,500 soldiers a day in the Kremlin in October, the worst for Moscow as the war enters its third year. It was the month of casualties.
“One of the things Russia needs is soldiers, and it's clear that the Houthis are recruiting soldiers,” Muslim told the FT. “Yemen is a very easy place to recruit. It's a very poor country.”
Yemenis added that many of the foreign fighters tricked into fighting for Russia were killed on the front lines.
Tim Lenderking, the US special envoy to Yemen, added that Russia is pursuing stronger ties with the Houthis and is discussing arms transfers.
“We know that there are Russian personnel in Sanaa who are working together to deepen this dialogue,” he said. “The types of weapons being discussed are extremely worrying and will allow the Houthis to better target shipping in the Red Sea and possibly beyond.”
Houthi terrorists have plagued the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden for more than a year, attacking commercial and military ships suspected of having ties to Israel in a show of solidarity with Hamas.
In addition to the Houthis, Russia has strengthened its military by adding more than 10,000 soldiers from North Korea as part of a new military agreement with Kim Jong Un.
Earlier this year, reports emerged that Moscow was seeking the assistance of thousands of mercenaries from Nepal and India to fight on the front lines.
“World War III has begun,” said Valery Zarzhini, a former top military commander in Kiev and current special envoy to the UK, after Russia used a number of other countries' jets and weapons.
