Mystery surrounds disappearance of vessel carrying arms to Yemeni Houthis

On July 15, communication was disrupted with a large vessel traveling from the Horn of Africa towards Yemeni Houthis.

The vessel was expected to reach its destination by July 12, with Yemeni security sources indicating it carried weapons, ammunition, equipment for weapon production, and supplies necessary for manufacturing missiles and explosives. Additionally, non-Yemeni military specialists were aboard the ship, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

Following the communication loss on July 13, reports suggested the vessel may have been intercepted or attacked by the US Navy or another international coalition member. Subsequently, senior leaders of Ansar Allah (Houthis) convened with Iranian experts in Sanaa to discuss the incident.

In response to the disappearance, the Houthis mobilized their naval forces, deploying surveillance drones and fishing boats to search the seas along the known arms smuggling route from Iran through ports in the Horn of Africa. As of now, no traces of the vessel or its cargo have been located.

Ansar Allah, commonly known as the Houthis, is a political and military movement based in Yemen. The group emerged in the early 1990s.

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war, with the Houthis controlling significant territories in the north and west of the country, including Sanaa. The conflict has resulted in a humanitarian catastrophe, including widespread famine, disease outbreaks, and displacement of millions of Yemenis.

The Houthis continue to be a central actor in Yemen's complex political and military landscape, maintaining their own administrative structures and governing institutions in areas under their control. They have also demonstrated resilience in the face of regional and international military pressure, while their relationship with Iran has drawn significant international scrutiny and geopolitical implications for the broader Middle East region.