Yemeni Authorities Seize Key Smuggling Route for Weapons, Migrants

Mortar shells and other ammunition that were being sent to the Houthis (State Media)
Mortar shells and other ammunition that were being sent to the Houthis (State Media)
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Yemeni Authorities Seize Key Smuggling Route for Weapons, Migrants

Mortar shells and other ammunition that were being sent to the Houthis (State Media)
Mortar shells and other ammunition that were being sent to the Houthis (State Media)

Yemeni government forces have taken control of a key smuggling route in western Aden province, seizing a new weapons shipment bound for the Houthis just days after intercepting two similar consignments.

The movement of migrants along the route has also dropped to its lowest level since the war began.

In a security operation, government forces in Lahj province’s coastal al-Sabiha region stopped a vehicle carrying what they called a “dangerous” shipment of ammunition.

The cargo included 120mm mortar shells and 12.7mm rounds. Smugglers had tried to bypass checkpoints using backroads, with the weapons likely headed for Houthi-controlled areas.

The operation followed careful monitoring, allowing security forces to seize the vehicle and its cargo without resistance. The joint security campaign continues to intercept arms and goods smuggling, recently stopping two weapons shipments to the Houthis and dismantling smuggling networks.

A statement from the security campaign said efforts to maintain stability would continue, with no tolerance for smugglers. It called the operation further proof that security forces are tightening control over key smuggling routes, weakening their operations.

The region, once a major smuggling hub, will no longer be a safe haven, it added.

Security forces also pledged to intensify efforts against all forms of smuggling, including pharmaceuticals and goods, as part of a plan to cut off smuggling routes and secure land and sea entry points.

The campaign said it would show no leniency toward smugglers, with patrols continuing alongside the use of modern technology to detect suspicious activity. It called for additional boats and advanced equipment to improve its ability to track smugglers at sea.

Authorities urged residents in al-Sabiha districts to cooperate with security forces and report any suspicious movements, stressing that maintaining stability is a shared responsibility.

They emphasized that protecting the region requires joint efforts between officials and the community to combat threats to public health and the economy.



Israeli Military Inquiry Says It ‘Failed to Protect’ Civilians on October 7

An aerial view shows members of the media during a visit to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in the aftermath of a deadly attack by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, October 15, 2023. (Reuters)
An aerial view shows members of the media during a visit to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in the aftermath of a deadly attack by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, October 15, 2023. (Reuters)
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Israeli Military Inquiry Says It ‘Failed to Protect’ Civilians on October 7

An aerial view shows members of the media during a visit to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in the aftermath of a deadly attack by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, October 15, 2023. (Reuters)
An aerial view shows members of the media during a visit to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in the aftermath of a deadly attack by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, October 15, 2023. (Reuters)

The Israeli military drastically underestimated the capabilities of Hamas before its attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and "failed in its mission to protect Israeli civilians", a summary of an Israeli military investigation published on Thursday said.

The perception that Hamas was not interested in a full-scale conflict and that Israel would have ample warning if that changed went unchallenged for years, the summary said, resulting in a lack of preparedness and ability to respond to an attack.

"The belief was that Hamas could be influenced through pressures that would reduce its motivation for war, primarily by improving living conditions in the Gaza Strip," the report said.

The investigation looked at Israeli military strategy, battle behavior and intelligence before, during and after October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters stormed southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 48,000 people have been killed in Israel's assault on Gaza since then, according to Palestinian health officials. Much of the enclave has been laid waste and most of the territory's 2.3 million prewar population have been displaced multiple times, humanitarian agencies say. Around 400 Israeli soldiers have also been killed.

The military investigation was conducted as calls grow from within the Israeli opposition and civil society for a national inquiry into the government's failures on the deadliest single day in modern Israeli history.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said a national inquiry would only be appropriate after the conclusion of the war.

The first phase of a ceasefire that began on January 19 is due to expire in two days' time.

The military investigation found Israel had focused its intelligence and military efforts on other fronts, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, and relied too heavily "on intelligence, barriers, and defensive measures alone", and was thus caught by surprise.

Military commanders did not perceive an urgent threat leading up to October 7 attacks and did not reinforce the troops defending the border.

A statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office on Thursday said that the military had not given the prime minister the findings of its investigations into the war.