SANAA, Yemen, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Yemeni intelligence officials claim they captured a vessel transporting Iranian-made weapons to the Shiite al-Houthi rebel group fighting government forces.
Ali Muhammad al Anisi, the head of the Yemeni intelligence agency, said information broadcast on Iran's al-Alam satellite news station and seized weapons point to Iranian support for the rebel group, Emirati newspaper The National reports.
"Iran's radio and its al-Alam television satellite station have also been airing reports in support of the Houthis in addition to the Friday prayers sermons also expressing support for al Houthis," he said. "We have also intercepted a ship loaded with weapons which we believe originated from Iran."
Yemeni forces launched a major military operation targeting al-Houthi rebels in the north of the country in August. The government blames the rebel group for attempting to establish an Islamic caliphate in the region, with Saudi Arabia entering the fight on border concerns.
The Yemeni government said Tehran is backing the rebel group, though Iranian officials deny the allegations.
Jeffrey Feltman, the U.S. assistance secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, said Washington has no evidence to suggest Iran is meddling in the conflict with al-Houthi rebels, the National reports.
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2. US fighter jets attack Yemeni fighters
Yemen's Houthi fighters say the US fighter jets have launched 28 attacks on the northwestern province of Sa'ada.
The US has used modern fighter jets and bombers in its offensive against the Yemen fighters, Houthis said in a statement.
According to the statement, the US fighter jets have launched overnight attacks on the Yemeni fighters, Arabic Almenpar website reported.
The development comes as The Daily Telegraph on Sunday reported that the US has sent its special forces to Yemen to train its army.
The reports of the US military intervention in Yemen come as Saudi Arabia is also lending full support to the Yemeni government's crackdown on Yemen's Houthi minority.
Saudi Arabia has launched cross-border ground attacks against Yemeni fighters and its fighter jets have reportedly dropped phosphorus bombs on Yemen's northern areas.
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3. US sends 'special forces' to Yemen amid crisis
US special forces have reportedly been sent to Yemen to train its army, as the Yemeni military backed by the Saudi Arabian army has been fighting local Houthi fighters in the north of the country.
The development comes amid fears that foreign military intervention in the country has put Yemeni civilians in dire condition.
American officials told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday that US forces have been sent to Yemen to prevent the country from turning into a "reserve base" for al-Qaeda.
read more @ press tv
4. GCC leaders support Saudi Arabia over Yemeni rebels
By Omar Hasan - KUWAIT CITY
Kuwait's emir on Monday opened a Gulf leaders' summit by voicing full support for Saudi Arabia in its fight against Yemeni rebels and calling on Iran to comply with international legitimacy.
"We renew our strong condemnation of these aggressions (against Saudi Arabia) and declare full support for whatever actions Saudi Arabia takes to defend its territory," Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah said in his speech.
"Any harm to the security and stability of Saudi Arabia is harm to the collective security of the member states" of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), he added.
Since early November Saudi forces have been fighting Yemeni Shiite Zaidi rebels, also known as Huthis, in the border area after a group of militants killed a Saudi border guard and occupied two Saudi villages.
Sheikh Sabah also said the GCC wanted the standoff over Iran's nuclear programme resolved through dialogue, and urged Tehran to "comply with international legitimacy in order to reach a peaceful solution."
read more @ middle east online
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