Newly recruited Houthi fighters gesture as they ride a car before heading to the frontline to fight against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen November 16, 2017. (REUTERS PHOTO)

TEHRAN, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said here Thursday that the Islamic republic provides "advisory assistance" for Yemeni Shiite Houthi militants, Tasnim news agency reported.

Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said that "Iran's support for the resistance groups in the region, including those in Yemen, is offered at their request."

"Today, Yemen is ruled by (Houthi) Ansarullah movement, and Iran provides much-needed advisory and spiritual assistance to them," Jafari said, adding that "the Islamic republic will not withhold the assistance and will continue providing it."

Tehran has so far denied arming Iranian-allied Shiite Houthis against the Saudi-led coalition which seeks to restore President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who was ousted by Houthis in September 2014.

Earlier, the coalition said in a statement that Iran was to blame for a recent Yemeni missile strike on Riyadh, which Iran dismissed categorically.

Saudi Arabia is leading a mostly Arab military coalition to fight Houthi rebels in Yemen since March 2015.

Houthis have been controlling much of Yemen's north by force, including the capital Sanaa since 2014.