Yemen seizes Iranian drone shipment bound for Houthis
SANAA – Yemeni government forces said on Sunday they had seized a shipment of Iranian drone components in the Red Sea that was being transported to the Houthi group, highlighting renewed efforts to disrupt the movement of military equipment to the Iran-aligned movement.
Sadiq Dwaid, a military spokesman for the government-aligned National Resistance Forces, said the operation was carried out by the group’s naval forces and involved the interception of components and parts used to manufacture and assemble drones.
The seizure, he said, demonstrated the readiness of Yemeni forces to monitor the country’s territorial waters and disrupt Iranian supply routes to the Houthis.
“The operation reflects the high readiness of the Yemeni forces and their ability to monitor the territorial waters and cut the Iranian supply arteries,” Dwaid said in a statement posted on X.
He said the operation had prevented the transfer of equipment used in the manufacture of drones to the Houthis and suggested the seizure was evidence that the group’s ability to protect its smuggling networks was weakening.
The pro-government December 2 News Agency said the consignment contained components and parts used in the manufacture and assembly of unmanned aerial vehicles.
There was no immediate comment from the Houthis or Iran on the claims.
The interception comes as military tensions between Yemen’s internationally-recognised government and the Houthis have intensified, with fighting reported to have resumed in several parts of the country since early July after a period of relative calm.
The renewed clashes have been reported in areas including Marib, al-Jawf, al-Dhale and Taiz, adding another layer of uncertainty to Yemen’s already fragile security situation.
The Yemeni government has for years accused Iran of providing the Houthis with military and technical assistance, including technology and components used to develop drones and missiles. Tehran has denied accusations that it directs or supplies the group in the manner alleged by its opponents.
The latest seizure puts maritime smuggling routes back at the centre of Yemen’s conflict. For the government, intercepting shipments at sea offers a way to pressure the Houthis’ military capabilities without relying solely on confrontation on the ground.
The Houthis have controlled the capital Sanaa and large parts of northern and western Yemen since 2014, when they seized control of the capital and expanded their territorial presence. Government forces have been supported by a Saudi-led coalition as part of efforts to restore the internationally-recognised government.
The Red Sea has become increasingly important to the wider conflict, with the Houthis developing the ability to deploy drones and missiles against maritime targets and using attacks at sea as part of their broader military strategy.
Separately on Sunday, state-run Al-Yemen TV reported that Yemeni armed forces had destroyed a Houthi boat before it could attack ships in the Red Sea.
The broadcaster said the vessel was unmanned and remotely operated, but gave no further details. There was no immediate response from the Houthis.
The reported seizure and destruction of the boat come against a backdrop of wider regional tensions that have repeatedly drawn Yemen into broader confrontations involving Iran, Gulf states and international shipping.
The government-aligned forces said the interception would strengthen efforts to tighten control over maritime approaches and prevent military equipment from reaching Houthi-controlled territory.
For the Houthis, however, maintaining access to external supplies remains central to preserving their drone and missile capabilities, making the Red Sea an increasingly important arena in the struggle over the balance of power inside Yemen.