Another Arms Shipment Bound for Houthis Stopped off Yemen

🌊 Yemeni forces have intercepted another vessel loaded with drone components allegedly heading to Houthi-controlled areas. The latest operation took place off the coast of Lahj, west of Aden, and was reported by the UAE-backed Giants Brigades.

 

🚤🧍 The small wooden dhow, crewed by three men, was found carrying high-tech parts used to assemble and control unmanned aerial vehicles – cameras for day and night surveillance, GPS modules, flight controllers, power batteries, and other electronics. Officials believe the cargo was meant to boost the Houthis’ drone and reconnaissance capabilities.

 

This is the latest in a string of recent interceptions across Yemen’s coastlines. Over the past few months, several Yemeni security units have reported seizing weapons and military hardware believed to have been smuggled by sea. These operations point to increasing efforts to block supply routes feeding the long-running conflict.

 

For mariners sailing through the region, the message is clear: the waters around southern Yemen remain a high-alert zone. Small fishing dhows and cargo boats are often used for smuggling, and naval patrols are becoming more active in response. Merchant crews are advised to stay vigilant, especially when approached by small craft in the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden.

 

Despite years of war, Yemen’s coastline continues to play a central role in regional security and for those at sea, each new interception is a reminder of just how contested these waters remain.

 

Source: Maritime Executive

Picture: Khaled Abdullah/Reuters