U.S. officials have raised alarms about Russia’s increasing involvement with the Houthi rebels in Yemen. While the Houthis have long been supported by Iran, recent reports suggest that Russia may be stepping in to aid the rebels,

Russia is recruiting hundreds of Yemeni Houthis for the war against Ukraine. The men were brought to Russia through a shadowy human trafficking operation, according to the Financial Times. Yemeni recruits who traveled to Russia told the Financial Times that they were promised high-paying jobs and even Russian citizenship.

Moscow has previously pulled mercenaries into its war effort in Ukraine and now appears to be recruiting much further afield.

The Financial Times has reported that Russia has been recruiting Houthi rebels from Yemen to fight Ukraine. Young men from Yemen, who travelled to Russia, told the Financial Times that they were promised high-salaried employment and Russian citizenship.