Ship Confiscated in Yemen Carried Weapons for Syria Rebels

Local Editor

An informed source at the Iranian Foreign Ministry denied the recent accusations raised by the western and Yemeni officials about Iran's involvement in arms smuggling to Yemen.

The Foreign Ministry source strongly dismissed the claims that a ship intercepted last month off Yemen's coast was carrying Iranian weapons.
"Making such irresponsible claims is not in the interest of the two countries," an official stated, and pointed out that "Iran attaches great importance to stability and security in the region."
Meanwhile, a Yemeni daily disclosed on Monday that the arms cargo confiscated off the country's coasts was headed for the rebel groups in Syria.
It further dismissed the western media allegations that the weapons cargo was sent to the Yemeni rebels by Iran.

In details, Yemen's Aloulaye daily quoted informed sources as saying that the shipment of weapons and explosives which was intercepted off Yemen's coasts was planned to be transferred to the so- called Free Syrian Army.
The report said the ship started its voyage from Ukraine and was en route to Syria when it entered Yemen's water.

The sources added, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, that the ship has entered Yemeni waters after receiving an official permission from a government department in Yemen and without the knowledge of the country's Defense Ministry which is the sole authority in charge of such permissions.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org