Yemen seizes Iranian arms

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SANAA, Yemen, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Yemen authorities have seized Iranian military equipment slated for rebels aboard a cargo ship at the port of Hodeidah, sources told Asharq al-Awsat.

Security sources in Yemen told the London Arabic daily, equipment to manufacture missiles and ammunition was found on the ship and confiscated Saturday. The sources said the equipment was headed to Shiite Huthi rebels in the Saada province mountains for an arms factory.

A source said the Huthi rebels in control of the area are "manufacturing short-range missiles to increase their [military] capabilities with the help of Hezbollah experts and technicians."

Other military and political sources in Yemen told the newspaper Hezbollah experts have trained the rebels to manufacture and assemble missiles.

The sources also pointed to Iran's growing involvement, saying Tehran has sought to stockpile missiles in Yemen to use in the event of a military strike on Iranian nuclear sites to "attack international power lines in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea."

Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Hadi has accused Tehran of supporting armed and political movements in Yemen, and said six Iranian spy networks had been uncovered by the authorities, the paper said. He also accused Tehran of trying to "derail the political process in Yemen."

The country's Ministry of Defense said Iranian, Syrian and Yemeni nationals suspected of belonging to the spy rings were arrested and are suspected of importing military equipment into the country to manufacture missiles and weapons, the paper said.

Tehran has called the accusations "baseless," the paper said.