Aden, Yemen – In a high-profile security operation reflecting the vigilance of the Southern Armed Forces in protecting territorial waters, the security campaign of the Southern Giants Forces, led by Brigadier General Hamdi Shukri, commander of the 2nd Giants Division, announced the successful interception of a smuggling vessel arriving from Iran. The operation took place in territorial waters off the coast of Al-Mudharabah and Ras Al-Arah districts in Lahj Governorate, near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. An official source within the security campaign explained that the operation was the result of meticulous monitoring and tracking conducted by a naval patrol belonging to the forces. The vessel’s identity and suspicious route were identified before its interception.
The source confirmed that a thorough inspection of the ship revealed large shipments of unauthorized medicines, as well as quantities of dual-use metal wires, which are feared to be used for military purposes to support the Houthi militias.
The operation resulted in the arrest of the ship’s crew of 10 Pakistani sailors. They were all subsequently taken into custody pending legal investigations. Initial investigations revealed that the ship departed from the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas on March 12, 2026. It was following a clandestine maritime route in an attempt to reach the port of Salif in Hodeidah Governorate, which is controlled by the Houthi militias loyal to Tehran.
All seized items were confiscated, and the crew members were detained pending investigation. They will be referred to the competent judicial authorities to face strict legal measures against them and those involved in these illegal activities.
Commenting on this security achievement, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council member and Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Armed Forces, Abdulrahman Al-Mahrami (Abu Zara’a), praised the high level of vigilance demonstrated by the members of the Southern Giants Forces’ security campaign.
Al-Mahrami affirmed that this success represents a significant blow to Iranian smuggling networks seeking to supply the Houthi terrorist militias with equipment and materials that enable them to continue threatening regional and international security and stability. In his remarks, Commander Al-Mahrami emphasized the importance of redoubling security and military efforts to protect Yemeni coasts and waterways from smuggling and piracy.
He stressed the necessity of continuing to intensify maritime patrols and maintain constant vigilance to thwart any attempts to deliver contraband or weapons to the Houthi terrorist militias and their criminal networks. He also emphasized that the Southern Armed Forces will remain a bulwark of security and an impenetrable barrier against all threats targeting the security and stability of the nation and international navigation in this vital region.
