Oman company lures Yemenis for Russian army with false promises
The transport company Al Jabri General Trading & Investment Co SPC, based in Oman, recruited hundreds of Yemenis with promises of jobs and Russian citizenship. However, these individuals were forcibly enlisted into the army and sent to the front lines in Ukraine. The recruitment was conducted in collaboration with the Houthi militias, who are supported by Iran, as reported by the "Financial Times".
Yemeni recruits who arrived in Russia were deceived by promises of high-paying jobs and Russian citizenship. Upon arrival, through a company associated with the Houthis, they were compelled to join the Russian army and deployed to the Ukrainian front.
A recruit named Nabil, who communicated with the "Financial Times", estimated that in September, he and about 200 other Yemenis were inducted into the Russian army after arriving in Moscow. While some had combat experience, many had not received any military training.
Abdullah, another Yemeni mentioned in the article, said he was promised a $10,000 bonus, a $2,000 monthly salary, and eventual Russian citizenship for work in drone production. Upon arriving in Moscow on September 18, his group was forcibly taken from the airport to a facility approximately three hours from the capital.
Russian collaboration with Houthi militias
U.S. Special Envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking confirms that "We know that there are Russian personnel in Sanaa helping to deepen this dialogue." He warns that the types of weapons being discussed are very concerning and could enable the Houthis to better attack ships in the Red Sea and potentially beyond.
Houthi militias sent at least two official delegations to Moscow this year, where they met with high-ranking Kremlin officials, including Mikhail Bogdanov, the Kremlin's envoy to the Middle East. American diplomats report that Moscow provides various types of assistance to the Houthis, including targeting information for specific missile launches.
Ali Al-Subahi, chairman of the board of the International Federation of Yemeni Migrants, stresses that "this is a humanitarian issue that unites all Yemenis, regardless of political affiliation." He notes that hundreds of Yemenis remain in Russia.
According to Farea al Muslimi, a Gulf region expert from Chatham House, "one thing Russia needs is soldiers, and it’s clear the Houthis are recruiting, [for them]." He highlights that it is a very poor country.
