Blow to Iran: an opposition group seizes 750 tons (1,653,466 pounds) of weaponry bound for Yemen

Thanks to U.S. intelligence, a shipment of 750 tons (1,653,466 pounds) of Iranian missiles and weaponry destined for Yemen was intercepted and seized by opposition fighters to the Houthi terrorist movement.

The seizure operation was celebrated by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on its social media, in addition to praising the work of its Yemeni allies. 

"Congratulations to the Yemeni National Resistance Forces (NRF), led by General Tareq Saleh, for the largest seizure of advanced conventional Iranian weapons in their history," reads part of the statement.

Details of the seizure

The official statement from the U.S. command details that the shipment included hundreds of advanced cruise, anti-ship, and anti-aircraft missiles, as well as hundreds of drones, air defense equipment, radar systems, and communications equipment. 

According to what the NRF told the Americans, the seized items included manuals in Farsi that demonstrated that the confiscated weapons were manufactured by a company affiliated with the Iranian Ministry of Defense that is sanctioned by the United States. 

The Houthis and Iran—which to this day falsely denies arming the terrorist group—did not acknowledge the seizure, which according to opposition forces occurred at the end of June.

Major blow to Iranian interests

The recent seizure marks the public appearance of the National Resistance Force, a group of fighters allied with Tariq Saleh, nephew of the late Yemeni leader and historic opponent of the Houthi movement Ali Abdullah Saleh.

It is worth recalling that the terrorist group funded by Iran took Yemen's capital, Sana'a, in September 2014, forcing the country's government into exile.

Saudi Arabia, leading a coalition of countries supported by the United States, entered the war on the side of the exiled government and was able to halt the terrorist advance, although they still control the capital. 

Having limited the flow of Iranian weapons to Yemen is crucial for U.S. interests in the region, but essentially for the security of Israel and the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. 

Since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, the Houthis have used that arsenal provided by Iran to act in solidarity with Hamas terrorists by attacking Israel daily with missiles and sinkingships in the Red Sea.