By Faisal Abu Bakr | 2025-01-28

ADEN -- Recent seizures of ammunition, explosives, detonators, drone engines and control devices from vessels in the Red Sea and at a Yemeni port show the Houthis are continuing to receive lethal weapons from key allies and enablers.

On January 11, pro-government Southern Giants Brigades seized a shipment of ammunition and shells aboard a boat near Bab al-Mandeb, Scope24 reported.

A day later, Yemeni forces seized a large shipment of explosives and detonators from a boat near Bab al-Mandeb as it headed for the Houthis in al-Hodeidah, and arrested the crew, Khabar Agency reported.

The vessel was carrying three containers of highly explosive materials, detonators and fuses used in the manufacture of drones, missiles and explosive devices, the Giants Brigades media center said.

On January 17, customs employees and Aden Free Zone security officers "seized engines and control devices for drones," and other prohibited goods, the Yemeni News Agency (Sabanew.net) reported.

The items, which included five Chinese-made fuel-powered drone engines, two types of control devices, 15 wireless drone devices and a small drone, "were in a multi-commodity container, coming from China."

On January 13, Aden customs officials "announced the seizure of a shipment of 180 smart servo motors, which are used to actuate the wings of drones and discharge projectiles, and can also be used in robots," Sabanew.net reported.

Organized smuggling effort

Cargos destined for the Houthis are likely being smuggled via Chinese ships, as the Houthis have said they will spare these vessels from their attacks, political analyst Mahmoud al-Taher told Al-Fassel.

"The Houthis have a close alliance with Iran, which considers China an important trading partner," al-Taher said. "It is possible that Iran played a role in facilitating these shipments."

The recent seizure of drone engines and control systems "shows there are organized efforts to smuggle these materials into Yemen," he said.

"These prohibited shipments pose a major security threat, as drones can be used for military or terrorist purposes," he added, praising the vigilance of customs authorities who prevented them "from reaching the hands of armed groups."

The Iranian regime is a key backer of the Houthis, supplying the group with weapons it has used to carry out attacks on international shipping.

Shipments of smuggled weapons often originate at the Iranian ports of Bandar Abbas and Jask, destined for the Houthis in Yemen's al-Mahrah province.

But sometimes shipments take a circuitous route to avoid detection, with the illicit cargo heading from Iran to East Asian countries and then onward to Yemen's Hadramaut province.

Once arms shipments arrive in Yemen, they are transported by land to the Houthis in Sanaa and Saada provinces -- unless they are apprehended first.