Houthi weapon-smuggling cell linked to Iran’s revolutionary guards apprehended

LONDON: A Houthi cell smuggling Iranian weapons into Yemen has been apprehended, the country’s Minister of Information Muammar Al-Eryani said on Saturday.

The cell admitted to receiving training in Iran and the confessions were evidence of Iran’s involvement, according to Al-Eryani.

“The cell’s confessions confirm the Houthis’ exploitation of the Stockholm Agreement,” he said, referring to an accord signed in Dec. 2018 between opposing factions in the conflict that set out a series of undertakings as a precursor to lasting peace in the country.

He added that Iran’s continued arming of the Houthis was a violation of international laws.

He said that the cell used the ports of Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Issa to smuggle Iranian weapons as well as to target civilians in Saudi Arabia and navigate the Red Sea.

“It is imperative to pressure Tehran to stop its terrorist activities,” he said, calling for an extension of the Iranian arms embargo.