Hodeidah (South24)

Yemeni Coast Guard forces in the Red Sea sector announced on Thursday (January 13) that they intercepted a boat loaded with advanced military equipment, that was headed to the Houthi-controlled port of Salif in Hodeidah Governorate.

The December 2 Agency, affiliated with the 'National Resistance' forces led by Tariq Saleh on the Western Coast of Yemen, reported that the boat ’Al-Zahraa‘, was operated by five sailors believed to be linked to the Houthi leader Hassan Al-Attas, who is responsible for fisheries in Hodeidah.

The report indicated that the boat had set off from the port of Djibouti and was on its way to the port of Salif when it was intercepted in coordination with the General Intelligence Division of the National Resistance.

Search of the boat led to the discovery of a 40-foot container loaded with sophisticated military equipment, including winged missile bodies, jet engines, reconnaissance drones, and marine radars, in addition to modern jamming and wireless communications systems, the agency report said.

The seized shipment reflects the continued flow of weapons from Iran to the Houthis through the ports of Hodeidah, which the Yemeni government and the Saudi-led military coalition say are used to smuggle weapons.

According to the agency, the five sailors admitted that they were not aware of the true nature of the shipment. The men had been told that it contains car spare parts, and they were issued with forged shipping documents.

They also claimed that Houthi leader Hassan Al-Attas contacted the captain of the boat after it was seized, threatening to liquidate him if the shipment did not reach the port of Salif.

There was no immediate comment from the Houthi group or Iranian authorities on these accusations. The port of Salif is one of three ports controlled by the Houthis in the Red Sea governorate of Hodeidah.

The National Resistance is the political wing of the Republican Guard forces led by Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) member Tariq Saleh. It is active in Hodeidah and is made up of remnants that were part of the army loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.