On Tuesday, Russia renewed its position in support of the Yemeni government, and its readiness to provide support in various fields, in conjunction with American reports of Russian support for the Houthi group.

This came during a meeting between Yemeni Foreign Minister Shaye’ al-Zindani and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Russian Embassy in Yemen, Dr. Yevgeny Kudrov.

The government agency Saba reported that the meeting discussed issues of common interest at the regional and international levels.

She added that the latest developments in the political situation in Yemen and the region, and ways to achieve peace, security and stability, were discussed.

Yesterday, the Russian Federation denied American accusations of supplying the Houthi group in Yemen with weapons in response to continued American support for Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said - in a statement - that what was reported by the American newspaper "The Wall Street Journal" regarding the Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout and his attempt to mediate the sale of small arms to the Houthi group in Yemen "appears to be fake"

He added that Moscow is inclined to classify this story as “fake.”

Earlier, the American newspaper "The Wall Street Journal" said that the Russian arms dealer nicknamed the "Merchant of Death", Viktor Bout, returned to his activities after his release from prison, and is paving the way for a deal to sell weapons to the Houthis in Yemen.

The newspaper said in a recent report translated into Arabic by “Al-Mawqeeq Post” that the Russian arms dealer Bout has returned to his activity nearly two years after his release from American prisons as part of an exchange deal, and is currently working on “completing an arms deal to the Houthis in Yemen.” /p>

The newspaper reported that Bout was preparing to mediate a light arms deal to the Houthi group in Yemen, which is supported by Iran, and which is carrying out attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea.

According to the report, Viktor Bout, the Russian arms dealer known as the "Merchant of Death," was released from an American prison nearly two years ago in a deal with Moscow in exchange for American basketball star Britney Griner. Now he's back at work, trying to broker the sale of small arms to Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.

According to the report, potential arms transfers, which have not yet been delivered, are halted before the sale of Russian anti-ship or anti-aircraft missiles, which could pose a major threat to the US military’s efforts to protect international shipping from Houthi attacks.

The Biden administration was concerned that Russia might provide the Houthis with such advanced weapons to respond to Washington's support for Ukraine, but there is no evidence that these missiles were sent, or that Bout was involved in such a deal, the newspaper says.

She stressed that arming a warring party in the Middle East conflict would also represent an escalation for Russia, which has been working to strengthen security relations with Tehran but has generally stayed away from the confrontation between Israel and its Iranian-backed enemies.