UAE-backed Yemeni Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces intercepted and seized an Iranian cargo ship in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, accusing it of smuggling weapons to the Houthi rebels, officials confirmed Wednesday.

According to initial reports, the vessel departed from Iran’s Bandar Abbas port and was stopped after entering Yemeni territorial waters. Upon inspection, STC forces discovered a cache of weapons and military supplies allegedly intended for Houthi forces operating in northern Yemen.

All crew members aboard the ship were detained and transferred for questioning, while the vessel itself was escorted to a secure port under STC control.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait — a narrow but vital maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden — has become a flashpoint for regional tensions, with Iran frequently accused of arming the Houthis in violation of U.N. arms embargoes.

Regional analysts say the interception highlights the increasing assertiveness of UAE-backed forces in curbing Iranian influence and protecting strategic shipping routes vital to global trade.

This latest seizure underscores the fragile balance of power in Yemen’s ongoing conflict, where multiple foreign and domestic actors continue to vie for control of critical supply lines and territory.