France is increasing its military role in the fight against arms smuggling. French forces seized weapons that were on their way to Iran-backed Houthi rebels operating in Yemen
French special forces seized a shipment of weapons and ammunition supplied by Iran, destined for the armed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The operation is part of an effort to curb Tehran, according to sources familiar with the operation who spoke to the Wall Street Journal.
The US and its allies have accused Tehran of supplying the Houthi forces with missiles, drones and other weapons that they used to carry out hundreds of attacks against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Tehran provides open political support to the Houthi forces, but has denied that it supplies them with weapons in violation of UN resolutions.
On January 15, a French warship stopped a suspected smuggling vessel off the coast of Yemen, the boat was boarded by specially trained French personnel, officials said, the French military discovered more than 3,000 assault rifles, half a million rounds of ammunition and 20 anti-aircraft missiles tanks.
The current report is a continuation of Iranian attempts to support the Houthis. Last December the Americans seized weapons on their way to Yemen. This is the second illegal weapons seizure by the US 5th Fleet that month. The force recovered more than one million rounds of 7.62mm ammunition; 25,000 rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition; nearly 7,000 rocket parts, and over 2,100 kg of material used to launch rocket-propelled grenades.