Arab coalition seizes Houthis' weapon-laden boats

The Arab coalition in Yemen on Saturday seized fishing boats belonging to the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

As per a statement, the Arab coalition said it foiled an imminent attack by Houthi rebels planning to target international navigation in the sea and seized a large number of fishing boats loaded with rocket-propelled grenades, Al-Arabiya reported.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-led alliance in another development confirmed that it issued a permit to an oil tanker to enter Hodeidah port in western Yemen on Friday.

The coalition added that about six ships were waiting to unload their cargo at the port, while seven others were waiting for permission to enter the port.

 

It further said that a ship named 'Great K' arrived at the Hodeidah Port after it was obstructed by the Houthi rebels for over 60 days.

The Arab coalition said the rebels also obstructed 'Volante' ship's entry to the port for over 39 days.

On a related note, Saudi Arabia has intercepted hundreds of missiles coming from Yemen, fired by the Houthi rebels.

Continued missile attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen have forced Saudi Arabia to cut off air, sea and land links with its neighbour.

Saudi defence forces have also halted Yemen's financial aids and food and fuel imports as well.

So far, over 150 missiles have been shot down since Saudi Arabia launched its military campaign in Yemen in 2015.

Former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh was killed in Sanaa after days of intense fighting between Houthi rebels and his loyalist forces on December 4 last year.

Both Saleh forces and the Houthi rebels backed by Iran are battling to capture the Yemeni capital city.

The conflict in Yemen, which began in 2014, has claimed more than 100,000 lives so far.

The fighting further intensified in 2015, when clashes broke out between incumbent Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi's government forces and Saleh loyalist forces.

The Saudi-led coalition forces, which is backed by the United States, has interfered in the conflict upon Hadi's request since then, and are carrying out regular airstrikes against the Houthi rebels.