Aden, Jumada II 15, 1438, March 14, 2017, SPA -- Yemeni islands with their strategic positions constitute paramount importance militarily and commercially, and their liberation by coalition forces for supporting the legitimacy in Yemen led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has directed a painful blow to Al-Houthi militias and ousted Saleh's forces. The putschists depend on some of the islands to smuggle weapons under the cover of various activities such as trade or fishing. The coalition carried out during the last period military operations in the Yemeni coast and islands, forming a security cover for the Western coast to reduce smuggling weapons and enable the legitimate authorities to regain control of most of the islands and coastal areas ranging from the Strait of Bab Al-Mandeb to Mokha Port and Midi Port in Hajjah province on the border with the Kingdom. The national army has recently seized three arms caches smuggled by militias from the islands. The criminal operations carried out by Al-Houthi militias and deposed Saleh's forces are not only confined to arms smuggling, but they exceeded that to smuggling of people, particularly mercenaries and some Iranian military elements, which was confirmed by the commander of reserve forces of the national army Major General Samir Al-Haj saying in previous statements that the putschists use Yemeni islands to smuggle weapons from Iran. He said that the Golden Spear operation aiming to liberate the west coast has limited the entry of weapons through Mokha port, which witnessed the entry of weapons laden on fishing boats after transferring them from large ships. Major General Al-Haj pointed to the entry of dozens of Iranian elements into Yemen carrying Yemeni passports and personal identity cards through ports under Al-Houthi authority. --SPA 13:32 LOCAL TIME 10:32 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w352941