Latest news with #TariqSaleh
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Yemen's Foreign Ministry: Iran's Arming of Houthis Hinders Peace, Fuels Conflict
Yemen's Deputy Foreign Minister Mustafa Naaman sharply criticized what he described as Iran's ongoing 'hostile policies' against the Yemeni people, accusing Tehran of persistently arming the Houthi movement with large quantities of weapons that prolong the country's devastating conflict. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Naaman said Iran should have learned 'harsh lessons' from the thousands killed across the Arab world and the destruction of vital infrastructure that has drained regional resources. Instead, he said, Tehran continues to supply its allies with arms, fueling 'ventures that bring misery to Yemenis.' His remarks came two days after Yemen's National Resistance forces (NRF), led by Brig. Gen. Tariq Saleh, thwarted a major Iranian arms smuggling attempt off the coast of Hodeidah in western Yemen. The intercepted shipment reportedly included advanced sea-to-air and air-to-air missile systems, air defense units, modern radar equipment, drones, surveillance devices, and anti-tank missiles destined for the Houthis. Naaman praised the Coast Guard's 'precision operation' launched from their bases in Al-Mokha, calling it 'a reassuring signal of vigilance and readiness.' He urged recognition of the 'tremendous efforts' by the National Resistance and Coast Guard forces despite limited technical and military resources. Moreover, Naaman condemned Iran's actions as obstructing United Nations-led peace efforts in Yemen. 'It is regrettable that Iran persists in hostile policies against the Yemeni people by continuing to arm the Houthis with large quantities of weapons that negatively impact efforts to end the conflict,' he said. He added that instead of supporting peace, the Iranian government 'continues to place obstacles in the path of every peace initiative led by UN envoy Hans Grundberg.' Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), praised the actions of the NRF saying. 'We commend the legitimate government forces of Yemen who continue to interdict the flow of Iranian munitions bound for the Houthis,' he said. 'The interdiction of this massive Iranian shipment shows that Iran remains the most destabilizing actor in the region. Limiting the free flow of Iranian support to the Houthis is critical to regional security, stability, and freedom of navigation,' he added.
Arab Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
Massive Arms Haul Exposes Iran's Direct Role in Yemen Conflict
SANA, July 17: Tariq Saleh, a member of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council and commander of the West Coast forces, announced the interception of a major weapons shipment following monitoring and surveillance conducted by the intelligence division of the National Resistance. According to Saleh, the seized cache included naval and air missile systems, an air defense system, advanced radars, drones, surveillance equipment, anti-tank missiles, B-10 artillery, tracking lenses, sniper rifles, ammunition, and various military hardware. Saleh reaffirmed his commitment to countering the activities of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the region. Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command confirmed that Yemeni forces had confiscated over 750 tons of munitions and military equipment, which included hundreds of sophisticated anti-ship missiles, drones, warheads, radar systems, communications gear, and search devices. Commenting on the development, Yemeni Information Minister Muammar al-Eryani described the seizure as the largest Iranian weapons shipment intercepted to date, destined for the Houthi militia. He added that the presence of Persian-language operating manuals among the cargo underscores Iran's direct role in fueling regional instability. Al-Eryani stressed that the Houthi militia serves merely as a local proxy for the Revolutionary Guard's broader expansionist ambitions deep within Yemeni territory.
Yemen Online
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yemen Online
Yemeni Forces Intercept Massive Iranian Arms Shipment Bound for Houthis
Aden — Yemeni government-aligned forces have announced the seizure of a 750-ton shipment of Iranian weapons allegedly destined for the Houthi rebel group, marking one of the largest interdictions in the region's decade-long conflict. The operation, led by Brigadier General Tariq Saleh, commander of the National Resistance Forces and member of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, was carried out in the Red Sea following intelligence surveillance. The seized cargo reportedly includes naval and aerial missile systems, air defense equipment, modern radar systems, drones, anti-tank missiles, sniper rifles, and surveillance devices. Saleh described the interception as a 'direct blow' to Iran's alleged support for the Houthis, accusing Tehran of attempting to destabilize Yemen and undermine its republican institutions. Iran has consistently denied supplying arms to the Houthis, despite repeated discoveries of Iranian-made weaponry in previous seizures. This latest haul adds to a growing list of intercepted shipments, with Yemeni forces claiming to have blocked eight arms deliveries since early 2024. The Houthis, who have controlled Yemen's capital Sanaa since 2014, have been involved in recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, escalating regional tensions. The Yemeni military has released video footage showing the seized weapons, including anti-ship missiles and Type 358 anti-aircraft systems, similar to those used in previous Houthi drone and missile attacks. International observers view the seizure as a significant development in curbing arms flow to the Houthis, amid ongoing efforts to stabilize Yemen and prevent further escalation in the region.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Yemen fighters allied to exiled government claim seizure of tons of Iranian-supplied Houthi weapons
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Fighters allied to Yemen's exiled government claimed Wednesday they had seized 750 tons of Iranian-supplied missiles and weaponry bound for the country's Houthi rebels, the latest interdiction of arms in the country's decade-long war allegedly tied to Tehran. For years, the US Navy and other Western naval forces have seized Iranian arms being sent to the Houthis, who have held Yemen's capital since 2014 and have been attacking ships in the Red Sea over the Israel-Hamas war. The seizure announced Wednesday, however, marked the first major interdiction conducted by the National Resistance Force, a group of fighters allied to Tariq Saleh, a nephew of Yemen's late strongman leader Ali Abdullah Saleh. The Houthis and Iran did not immediately acknowledge the seizure, which the National Resistance Force said happened in late June. A short video package released by the force appeared to show anti-ship missiles, the same kinds used in the Houthis' recent attacks that sank two ships in the Red Sea, killing at least four people as others remain missing.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Yemen fighters allied to exiled government claim seizure of tons of Iranian-supplied Houthi weapons
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Fighters allied to Yemen's exiled government claimed Wednesday they had seized 750 tons of Iranian-supplied missiles and weaponry bound for the country's Houthi rebels, the latest interdiction of arms in the country's decadelong war allegedly tied to Tehran. For years, the U.S. Navy and other Western naval forces have seized Iranian arms being sent to the Houthis, who have held Yemen's capital since 2014 and have been attacking ships in the Red Sea over the Israel-Hamas war. The seizure announced Wednesday, however, marked the first major interdiction conducted by the National Resistance Force, a group of fighters allied to Tariq Saleh, a nephew of Yemen's late strongman leader Ali Abdullah Saleh. The Houthis and Iran did not immediately acknowledge the seizure, which the National Resistance Force said happened in late June. A short video package released by the force appeared to show anti-ship missiles, the same kinds used in the Houthis' recent attacks that sank two ships in the Red Sea, killing at least four people as others remain missing. The footage also appeared to show Iranian-made Type 358 anti-aircraft missiles. The Houthis claim they downed 26 U.S. MQ-9 drones over the past decade of the Yemen war, likely with those missiles. The majority of those losses having been acknowledged by the U.S. military. The footage also appeared to show drone components, warheads and other weapons. The force said it would release a detailed statement in the coming hours. Iran denies arming the rebels, though Tehran-manufactured weaponry has been found on the battlefield and in sea shipments heading to Yemen for the Shiite Houthi rebels despite a United Nations arms embargo. The Houthis seized Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in September 2014 and forced the internationally recognized government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition armed with U.S. weaponry and intelligence entered the war on the side of Yemen's exiled government in March 2015. Years of inconclusive fighting has pushed the Arab world's poorest nation to the brink of famine. The war has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters, killing tens of thousands more.
