(U) (C-NE9-01257) KUWAITI PERCEPTIONS ON IRANIAN

S E C R E T KUWAIT 000912 NOFORN SIPDIS NEA/ARP, NEA/RA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2019 TAGS: PREL PINR PGOV KU IR SUBJECT: (U) (C-NE9-01257) KUWAITI PERCEPTIONS ON IRANIAN ACTIVITY IN YEMEN REF: A. SECSTATE 85632 ¶B. KUWAIT 760 ¶C. KUWAIT 877 ¶D. IIR 6946024309 Classified By: DCM Tom Williams for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (S/NF) Post assesses that Ref A's questions on Iranian perceptions of Yemen and details regarding bilateral ties between Tehran and Sana'a are beyond the scope of the GOK to comment upon. Post notes that there is clear suspicion within Kuwaiti military circles, as highlighted in a July 22 meeting between GEN Petraeus and Kuwaiti Deputy Chief of Staff LTG Ahmed Khalid Al Sabah (ref B),that Iran is supporting Shi'a elements in Yemen. In addition, an August 5 Embassy DATT report (Ref C) cited assertions by Kuwaiti MOD's Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) that IRIG aims to increase its influence in Yemen by supporting the Al-Houthi secessionists. According to the report, the DMI believes that Iran has played a role in the recent events, but declines to lay out details of IRIG involvement. One such allegation was in a report dated April 3, 2009 that suggested Al-Houthi fighters used Iranian combat training videos. Kuwaiti Minister of Interior Shaykh Jaber Al Sabah expressed to Ambassador on September 2 his suspicions that AQ found fertile ground in Yemen with the Shi'a Al-Houthis, but fell short of implicating Iran as a support conduit (ref D). Post is unaware that the GOK has evidence to support any of the above suspicions. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES