Somalia: Puntland security forces seize boat carrying military supplies from Yemen

Security forces in Somalia's Puntland region have seized a boat suspected of arriving from Yemen, carrying military clothing and other equipment, the Horn Observer reported on Tuesday.

A statement issued by the Counter-Terrorism Command in Puntland said that security forces in the Bari region were able to seize a boat carrying military clothing and other military equipment.

The written report from the command of the counter-terrorism operation added that the boat and its men, who are all Somalis, were seized on the shore of the Gao area in Bosaso district.

"The military is in control of the situation and investigating the matter, as the boat captain and other equipment carried by the military and men, and the boat carrying Somali men have been arrested in the waters of Gao area in the eastern region," a statement from the Puntland Counter-Terrorism Operations Command said.

"This operation, carried out by Puntland on board a boat carrying military equipment, comes at a time when the Bari region, especially in the Kalmaisaad Mountains, is carrying out an operation against ISIS, and Puntland has achieved great success in this operation," according to the website.

Last October, a report by the United Nations Panel of Experts on Yemen confirmed the existence of cooperation between the Houthi militia in Yemen and the Somali Al-Shabaab movement, including the smuggling of weapons and contraband, in addition to the exchange of intelligence information and resources.

An intelligence report published by Sea Hawk Maritime Intelligence also confirmed that the Houthis provide financial, logistical and military support to the Al-Shabaab and ISIS factions operating inside Somalia.

CNN was US intelligence has learned of discussions among the Houthis in Yemen to provide weapons to the Somali armed group al-Shabaab, three US officials who spoke to the network described as a worrying development that threatens to further destabilize a region already experiencing violence.