ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi-backed Yemeni government announced Saturday seizing an Iranian ship carrying 19 sailors off the coast of the Socotra archipelago in the country's eastern part.
According to a statement released by the Aden-based government, "the Iranian ship was seized after it illegally entered Yemen's waters on the coast of Hadibu, the capital of the Socotra archipelago, between the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea."
"A group of Yemeni fishermen participated in capturing the Iranian ship along with 19 sailors onboard," the statement said.
Sources close to Yemen's prime minister said that "an investigation is underway with the ship's crew regarding the details of its cargo and the source of supply."
However, local media reports quoted Yemen's minster of fisheries as saying that about 29 sailors were caught inside the Iranian ship.
Yemeni authorities repeatedly claim that Iranians attempt to infiltrate into Yemeni waters to carry out illegal operations, including smuggling arms to the Shiite Houthi rebels with small fishing boats.
