Yemeni minister condemns Iran鈥檚 escalated arms smuggling to Houthis

Assault rifles and missiles seized by the French navy lay on the deck of a ship at an undisclosed location. (Twitter: CENTCOM)
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  • Minister pointed to recent international crackdown on Iranian shipments of weapons heading to Yemen

DUBAI: Iran has escalated its arms smuggling operations to the Houthi militia since the United Nations-backed truce ended last October, said Muammar Al-Eryani, Yemen鈥檚 minister of information, culture, and tourism.

The minister pointed to a recent operation, jointly carried out by US and French forces, that intercepted an Iranian shipment of weapons heading to Yemen through the Gulf of Oman.  

Reports earlier said the vessel carried 3,000 assault rifles, 20 anti-tank missiles, and around 500,000 rounds of ammunition en route to the Houthi militia.

In a statement, the US said the operation was one of four major interdictions over the last two months that prevented over 5,000 weapons and 1.6 million rounds of ammunition from reaching Yemen.

Al-Eryani said the Yemeni security forces鈥� seizure of 100 drone engines, headed to the Houthis via Shahn land port in the 5th such violation in two months, has demonstrated Iran鈥檚 role in undermining the international community鈥檚 efforts to end the war and bring peace to Yemen.

He added that it confirms Iran鈥檚 full empowerment of a militia that 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 have power to decide on war and peace.鈥�

Al-Eryani accused Iran鈥檚 regime of committing such violations to 鈥渆xport its internal crises鈥� and 鈥渃over up atrocities against the Iranian people.鈥�

The regime, he said, wanted to 鈥渕obilize its sectarian militias to create chaos, terrorism, destabilize security and stability, and threaten energy security and international shipping lanes.鈥�

The minister called on the international community and UN members to confront Iran鈥檚 illegal practices that undermine regional and international stability.