Mokha (South24 Center)

Yemeni naval forces announced on Saturday, May 11, that they had thwarted two separate attempts to smuggle large quantities of military equipment to the Iran-backed Houthi militia via the Red Sea. The operations were carried out based on precise intelligence provided by the National Resistance's General Intelligence Division, headquartered in the coastal city of Mokha.

According to Yemen’s official news agency Saba, patrol units from the First Marine Infantry Brigade and the Coast Guard intercepted two traditional sailboats en route from Djibouti to the Houthi-controlled port of Ras Issa in Hodeidah Governorate.

The seized vessels, with a 14-member crew, were reportedly carrying three million detonation fuses, 3,600 km length of explosive wiring, and 64 satellite communication devices.

The 2 December media outlet, affiliated with the National Resistance, said preliminary investigations confirmed the crew’s direct ties to the Houthi group. The consignment was meant to be delivered to the Houthi militia—designated by the Yemeni government as a terrorist organization supported by Iran.

According to the report, the confiscated detonators are commonly used to arm explosive-laden boats, kamikaze drones, and remote-controlled or infrared-triggered minefields. The wiring was intended for use in connecting these explosive networks.

The National Resistance stated that the entire operation was documented on video, capturing the moment of interception and inspection of the vessels. The arrested crew members have since been handed over to the competent authorities for further interrogation.

The Houthi group has yet to issue any official comment regarding the incident.

This marks one of the most significant maritime anti-smuggling operations in the Red Sea in recent months, amid growing concerns over increased arms smuggling to the Houthis through illicit maritime routes. The Yemeni government has repeatedly accused Tehran of supplying the group with advanced weaponry in violation of international sanctions.

The latest seizures come just days after the Southern forces intercepted a smuggling boat carrying missiles and assault weapons near the Bab al-Mandab Strait on May 4, 2025. The shipment included anti-armor LAW rockets (anti-tank rocket launchers), BMG ammunition for machine guns, and hand grenades, raising alarm about the scale of weapons trafficking along Yemen’s western coastline.

Earlier on April 28, security forces in the same area had seized a shipment of illicit ammunition, underscoring the persistence and sophistication of the smuggling networks operating in the region.