9 Feb 2013

Shipment of missiles and rockets seized

1:52 pm on 9 February 2013

Yemen has seized a ship carrying missiles and rockets.

The BBC reports the weapons were found aboard a vessel intercepted off Yemen's coast on 23 January by the Coastguard and the US Navy.

Officials said the shipment included anti-aircraft missiles, Katyusha rockets, rocket-propelled grenades and C4 explosives.

Reports suggest the weapons were destined for the Red Sea port of Al-Mukha and their intended recipients were a Shia insurgent group based in northern Yemen.

President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has called on Iran to stop backing armed groups in his country.

Tehran has denied any connection to the weapons and Yemen has asked the UN Security Council to investigate.