Russian Viktor Bout, known as the ‘Merchant of Death’, was sentenced in the US to a total of 25 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder and arms trafficking. He was released in 2022 as part of a prisoner swap. Now he is allegedly involved in arms transactions with Islamic militias in Yemen.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the 57-year-old is alleged to have brokered the sale of small arms, mainly Kalashnikov-style assault rifles, to the Houthi militias. Both the Kremlin and Bout himself reject the report.
Bout praises ‘good work’ by the Houthis
Despite limited resources, the Houthis “did a pretty good job” of downing more than 10 U.S. reconnaissance drones, Bout praised. Because no well-known actors were present there, the American media used his name and image as an arms baron to attract attention, the Russian claimed.
Anti-Western Houthi rebels in Yemen have regularly fired rockets or drones at targets in Israel and ships in the Red Sea since the outbreak of the Gaza war. Just on Monday, a rocket fired from Yemen towards central Israel was intercepted by the Israeli army.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
