Fighters allied with Yemen's exiled government announced on Wednesday the seizure of 750 tonnes of Iranian-supplied missiles and weaponry destined for Houthi rebels. This marks the latest interdiction of armaments allegedly linked to Tehran in the country's decade-long war, reported PTI
According to AP, for years, U.S. Navy and other Western naval forces have intercepted Iranian arms shipments to the Houthis, who have controlled Yemen's capital, Sanaa, since 2014. The rebel group has recently been involved in attacking ships in the Red Sea, citing the Israel-Hamas war as their motive.
However, the seizure announced this week is the first major interdiction carried out by the National Resistance Force. This group is aligned with Tariq Saleh, the nephew of Yemen's late former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Reportedly, the National Resistance Force stated the seizure occurred in late June.While Iran and the Houthis have not immediately acknowledged the event, a video released by the force appeared to show anti-ship missiles, similar to those used in recent Houthi attacks that resulted in the sinking of two ships and multiple fatalities in the Red Sea.
The footage also reportedly displayed Iranian-made anti-aircraft missiles, drone components, and other weaponry.
Iran has consistently denied arming the Houthi rebels, despite the discovery of Tehran-manufactured weapons on the battlefield and in maritime shipments bound for Yemen, which is under a United Nations arms embargo.
The lengthy conflict in Yemen has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis, with over 150,000 fatalities, including both combatants and civilians, and has pushed the Arab world's poorest nation to the verge of famine, reported AP
