Report: French Forces Seize Yemen-Bound Weapons

Facts

• A Wall Street Journal report published on Wednesday says that French Special Forces last month, in coordination with the US military, intercepted a boat allegedly carrying Iranian-supplied weapons and ammunition bound for Yemen.
• A French warship reportedly stopped a suspected smuggling ship off the Yemeni coast on Jan. 15 and, after boarding the ship, discovered more than 3k assault rifles, 500k rounds of ammunition, and 20 anti-tank guided missiles.
• The operation came a little over a week after the US Navy seized more than 2K assault rifles and 50 tons of ammunition when it intercepted a suspected smuggling vessel operated by Yemeni nationals in the Gulf of Oman.
• In July, the UK navy, with support from a US navy destroyer, reported that it seized a shipment of advanced Iranian surface-to-air missiles and engines for land-attack cruise missiles en route to Yemen in the Gulf of Oman.
• The US and its allies believe Iran has supplied the Houthis with missiles, drones, and other weapons used in attacks against Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and their allied forces in Yemen, breaking the UN's arms embargo on the country. Iran denies arming the Houthis.
• War broke out in Yemen in 2014, driving the country toward the brink of famine and a humanitarian disaster. Though a UN-backed truce took effect in April of last year, it ended on Oct. 2 after just six months. Despite this, fighting hasn't escalated. The UN has since been pressing for an extended and broader deal.

Sources: Wall Street Journal, FOX News, ITN, Al Arabiya English, and Al Jazeera.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Arab News. This seizure confirms a long-standing suspicion that Iran has been sneaking arms to Yemen's Houthis in breach of the UN weapons embargo. By doing so, Tehran continues to undermine peace efforts in the country and is prolonging the conflict.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Iran Press. Having sold countless billions of dollars worth of advanced weapons to the self-proclaimed military coalition behind the brutal war, the West lacks any credibility when it accuses Iran of foreign meddling. Though they blame Tehran for the conflict and the subsequent humanitarian crisis, it's ultimately the Western nations that are partnering with a coalition of war criminals.