Irish vessel apprehended over military shipment bound for Yemen

An Irish research vessel, flagged with the Marshall Islands, has been apprehended by Arab Coalition forces. The Mainport Cedar, en route from Djibouti to Hodeidah port in Yemen, was carrying military equipment rather the medical supplies on its manifest, Arab Coalition sources told local media.

The military equipment was found in containers that came from the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. The ship has been taken to the Saudi port of Jizan for inspection.

The military equipment was presumed destined fore the pro-Iranian Houthi militias and the ousted president, Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The ship belongs to Cork-headquartered Mainport.