Yemen's military forces, spearheaded by Tariq Saleh, garner praise from the US for halting a Houthi weapons trafficking operation
Advanced Weapons Smuggled to Yemen's Houthis Through Complex Network
In a recent operation, Yemeni security forces, working alongside the US Central Command (CENTCOM), intercepted a shipment of advanced weapons at the Port of Aden on August 6, 2025. The cargo, bound for the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah, included drones, jet propulsion systems, wireless devices, and control components.
The intercepted shipment is part of a sophisticated network involving maritime routes via Somalia, Djibouti, and direct shipments to Yemen. This network is operated by Iran's Quds Force and Hezbollah operatives, who employ covert methods such as disguising weapons as industrial cargo to circumvent international sanctions.
The seized weapons included ballistic missile components, drone technology, radar systems, and anti-aircraft systems. These advanced weapons have enabled the Houthis to expand their long-range strikes on shipping lanes and regional targets, including western warships in the Red Sea.
Gen Tariq Saleh, the army commander and member of the presidential council of Yemen, led the Yemeni forces that carried out the operation. He played a leading role in coastal battles against the Houthis before becoming a central figure in the Red Sea forces. The operation was coordinated with the public prosecutor and port authorities.
The US has praised Yemeni forces led by Gen Tariq Saleh for intercepting the shipment of weaponry. However, the US accuses Iran of smuggling advanced weapons to the Houthis, a charge Iran denies. The persistence of these smuggling routes underscores the challenge of enforcing UN sanctions and the ongoing complexity of regional proxy conflicts involving Iran.
The main actors involved in this smuggling network include Iran’s Quds Force, Hezbollah operatives, and the Houthi militia. Key smuggling routes include Bandar Abbas (Iran) to Al-Salif (Yemen) via Somalia (Bosaso) and Djibouti to Yemen ports. Operational hubs include Somalia’s coastline, Djibouti, and ports in Yemen (Al Hudaydah, Al-Salif).
The implications of this smuggling network are significant. The advanced weaponry enhances the Houthis’ capacity to conduct long-range strikes against shipping lanes and regional targets, including Western naval vessels in the Red Sea. The persistence of these smuggling routes underscores the challenge of enforcing UN sanctions and the ongoing complexity of regional proxy conflicts involving Iran.
References:
- The New York Times
- The Washington Post
- Reuters
- Associated Press
- CNN
- The intercepted shipment of advanced weapons bound for Yemen's Hodeidah port signifies a critical aspect of the world news landscape, potentially influencing future events in Yemen's ongoing war-and-conflicts.
- The operation against the smuggling network, involving Iran's Quds Force and Hezbollah operatives, sheds light on the politics and general-news surrounding the ongoing crisis in Yemen, as reported by major media outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post.
- The seizure of ballistic missile components, drone technology, radar systems, and anti-aircraft systems is not only a crime-and-justice concern but also has far-reaching geopolitical implications, potentially intensifying regional tensions and contributing to instability in world politics.
- As the Houthis continue to employ these advanced weapons for strikes on shipping lanes and regional targets, including western warships in the Red Sea, the international community must consider effective strategies to counter this threat, according to analysis and opinion pieces in sources like Reuters, Associated Press, and CNN.
