By Faisal Abu Bakr | 2025-07-28

ADEN -- The Iranian regime's ongoing military support for the Houthis, who use the weapons they receive to attack international shipping and destabilize regional countries, has been further unmasked by recent seizures at sea.

The interception of arms shipments by Yemeni forces, the US Navy and the maritime forces of allied nations does not reveal the full extent of the Iranian regime's complicity in the Houthis' activities, analysts told Al-Fassel.

But it does give an undeniably clear picture, they said.

The interdictions also demonstrate that the Houthis are diverting resources toward the purchase of weapons, as the Yemeni people suffer, while the Iranian regime continues its subsidy, even as Iranians grapple with economic collapse.

The shipments make it clear the Iranian regime considers the Houthis a strategic investment despite the high cost, political analyst Fares al-Beel told Al-Fassel.

The continued flow of weapons indicates the number of shipments may well exceed the number of those seized, which underscores the enormous costs borne by the Iranian regime and the Houthis, said political analyst Faisal Ahmed.

He estimated that since 2015, more than 20,000 weapons and hundreds of missiles have been seized, along with air defense systems and other advanced military equipment.

A single shipment such as the one seized June 27 may be worth up to $500 million, he told Al-Fassel, while the total value of shipments could exceed $1 billion.

A review of arms shipments seized between 2015 and 2025 demonstrates the Iranian regime's continuing support for the Houthis. Notable seizures include:

July 11: Yemen's government-allied National Resistance Forces intercepted a shipment of anti-tank missiles, rocket-propelled grenades (RPG), sniper rifles and machine guns.

June 27: National Resistance Forces seized around 750 tons of weapons, including anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, drone engines, air defense systems, radars and communications equipment.

May 10: National Resistance Forces seized a weapons shipment from a boat with 14 Houthi crew members, carrying three million detonators and 3,600 fuses.

February 12: The Yemeni Navy, with support from US Central Command (CENTCOM), intercepted a boat en route to al-Hodeidah carrying cruise missile components, drones, radars and advanced jamming systems.

January 13: In two operations, the Yemeni Navy, with the Coast Guard, seized a small vessel transporting three million electrical detonators, 3,600km of cable, and 64 satellite communications devices to the Houthis.

On January 28, 2024, the US Coast Guard intercepted a vessel in the Arabian Sea carrying around 200 weapons packages, including ballistic missile components.

Earlier that month, on January 11, US Navy SEALs intercepted a boat off the coast of Somalia carrying ballistic missile engines and air defense system parts.

Four seizures occurred in 2023: On December 23, the National Resistance Forces seized a shipment of ammunition and Kalashnikov weapons.

On February 23, the British Navy, with US support, intercepted a ship carrying anti-tank missiles and ballistic missile fins.

On January 15, French forces and CENTCOM intercepted a ship carrying 3,000 assault rifles, 578,000 rounds of ammunition, and 23 guided missiles.

And on January 6, the US Navy intercepted a boat carrying 2,100 AK-47 rifles.

Earlier interceptions include:

2022:

November 8: Two US ships intercepted a vessel carrying 70 tons of ammonium perchlorate (a substance used in the manufacture of explosives).

January 28 and February 25: Joint US-UK naval operations seized surface-to-air missiles and cruise missile engines.

January 18: USS Cole and USS Chinook seized 40 tons of urea fertilizer.

2021:

December 20: USS Tempest and USS Typhoon intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1,400 AK-47 rifles and 226,600 rounds of ammunition.

May 6 and 7: USS Monterey intercepted a vessel carrying Russian anti-tank missiles, thousands of Chinese assault rifles, and hundreds of heavy weapons.

2020:

July 28: A boat carrying 200 RPG launchers, 1,700 AK rifles, and 21 surface-to-air missiles was seized.

February 9: USS Normandy intercepted the Sniper-1 vessel carrying 150 anti-tank missiles and drone components.

2019:

November 25: USS Forrest Sherman intercepted the al-Raheeb vessel carrying anti-tank missiles and drone parts.

2016:

March 28: USS Sirocco seized a vessel carrying 1,500 AK-47 rifles and 200 RPG launchers.

March 20: The FS Provence intercepted a vessel carrying hundreds of AK-47 rifles.

February 28: Australian ship HMAS Darwin intercepted a vessel carrying 1,989 AK rifles, 100 RPGs, and 49 PKM machine guns.

September 30, 2015: The Arab coalition intercepted an Iranian fishing vessel in the Arabian Sea, carrying 18 anti-tank missiles and 54 shells.