Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel traveled to Yemen with missile- and drone-related equipment on a Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Sana'a on July 13, according to Yemen's internationally-recognized government and Iranian sources. The aircraft had originally brought a Houthi delegation to Tehran on July 3 for the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The Iranian sources said the return flight contained between 10 and 21 IRGC military advisers, including senior commanders, who intended to train the Houthis on a new missile system and who also brought gold intended to fund Houthi operations. The aircraft was forced to divert to Hodeidah when the Yemeni government carried out an airstrike on the Sana'a airport before the plane could land. The incident prompted the Houthis to declare a naval blockade against Saudia Arabia, whom they blamed for the airport strike.