An Iranian ship carrying weapons and experts reportedly bound for Houthi rebels in Yemen has vanished in the Red Sea, raising tensions in an already volatile region.
The vessel, which Arab media reports say was transporting missile assembly equipment, has been missing for four days after entering the Red Sea from the Horn of Africa. Its disappearance has sparked concern among Houthi leadership in Sanaa, who fear the ship may have fallen into American hands.
According to the Emirati newspaper Al-Ain Al-Akhbariya, Iranian experts and senior Houthi security leaders held an emergency meeting in Sanaa to discuss the situation. Yemeni security sources confirmed that the ship was expected to arrive on Friday but disappeared on Saturday.
The Houthis, lacking a robust navy, have mobilized small boats and drones for the search, but their efforts have been hampered by limited technology. No distress calls have been reported.
Iran has long been accused of supplying the Houthis with weapons and expertise to develop long-range missiles and drones. Such shipments, often disguised as commercial vessels, have occasionally been intercepted by the U.S. Navy and other international forces.
Speculation about the ship's fate ranges from a possible U.S.-backed mission to protect Red Sea vessels from Houthi attacks to potential Israeli involvement. As of now, the true circumstances of the ship's disappearance remain unclear.
This curious disappearing act has taken place against the backdrop of increased Houthi aggression in the Red Sea since November, further complicating the landscape in this crucial maritime region.
* Israel HaYom contributed to this article.