Yemeni naval forces thwart an operation to smuggle military equipment to the Houthis in the Red Sea

The Yemeni naval forces of the internationally recognized government announced on Sunday that they had foiled a smuggling operation of military equipment that was on its way to the Iran-backed Houthi group.

The Yemeni government's military media statement indicated that the operation that took place in the Red Sea "was carried out on the 24th of this month, and came after careful intelligence monitoring of maritime activity run by smuggling networks directly linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard."

The seizures included "control systems, advanced guidance devices designated for suicide planes, live video broadcasting and processing equipment, spare parts and precision electronics for fuel injection systems, wireless telephones for unmanned aerial vehicles, communication antennas, and supporting electronic components."

The statement indicated that it would broadcast video documentation on Monday of the seized items “that are directly involved in the manufacture and development of suicide drones.”

The statement also stated, quoting military sources, that “preliminary investigations conducted with the crew of the arrested boat revealed detailed confessions about the coordination mechanisms and smuggling methods specified by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.”

The intensity of clashes has escalated in recent weeks near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital waterway at the southern end of the Red Sea, after the Houthis imposed a blockade on ships coming from Saudi Arabia, the main supporter of Yemeni government forces.

Several Yemeni regions are also witnessing clashes between government forces and the Houthis following the faltering ceasefire agreement between the two parties.