Over 750 tons of advanced weaponry intercepted amid rising Red Sea tensions linked to Gaza conflict
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Wednesday that the Yemeni National Resistance Forces (NRF), an anti-Houthi militia led by Tarek Saleh—nephew of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh—have intercepted a massive Iranian arms shipment intended for the Houthi militants in Yemen.
According to CENTCOM, the seized cargo included over 750 tons of munitions and military hardware, featuring hundreds of advanced cruise, anti-ship, and anti-aircraft missiles, along with warheads, missile seekers, drone engines, air defense equipment, radar systems, and communications gear.
While the NRF is not officially part of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, it has become a critical player in the ongoing conflict against the Iran-aligned Houthis. The interception highlights growing regional tensions, especially as the Houthis have intensified attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since the outbreak of Israel’s war in Gaza against Hamas in October 2023. The Houthis claim these strikes as acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.
This large arms seizure underscores the complexities of the Yemen conflict and the wider geopolitical entanglements involving Iran’s support for Houthi forces, as well as the strategic importance of the Red Sea corridor amid escalating Middle East tensions.