Ras Issa peninsula sees suspected smuggling of dual-use equipment

The PTOC Yemen Maritime Security Unit has reported the unloading of 12 wooden vessels suspected of carrying dual-use equipment and devices at the Ras Issa peninsula in western Yemen. This activity is part of an expanding multi-directional logistics route originating from ports such as Bandar Abbas, Salalah, Bosaso, and Obok.

Satellite imagery from mid-September 2026 revealed newly constructed coastal piers in Ras Issa, located approximately 4.6 km from a Houthi military checkpoint. The reports indicate an increasing reliance on small wooden ships to facilitate these smuggling operations. Additionally, the arrival of individuals of various Arab nationalities has been noted alongside these continuous Houthi logistical activities.

In the Port of Hodeidah, monitoring between September 10 and 19 recorded the entry of 10 vessels, including nine commercial ships and the oil tanker ‘GRACEFUL STAR’. The maritime security unit suggests that diminished surveillance capabilities by Yemeni government forces in parts of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab strait have created an environment conducive to smuggling for the Houthis.