The Houthi Militant Group has seized around 70% of the Yemeni military equipment in 2014, a recent report said this week.
The report published by the Abaad Studies and Research Center, said that among what Houthi militants have seized were 120 tanks (T55-T62), 70 BTR – BMB vehicles, 20 self-propelled artilleries, 10 Katyusha rocket launchers and around 100 missiles including HOT ones.
The militants also took over 100 armored vehicles of heavy and medium machine guns as well as patrols and ammunition stores, it said, pointing out the weapons were seized from military bases Houthis raided and seized last year.
Moreover, the report said the Houthi militants got modern Iranian weapons including the two shipments, Jihan 1 and Jihan 2, which were seized and later handed to them.
The Houthi Group has fought foes and forces until it took over the capital city of Sanaa in December. In every city, its fighters seized military bases and weapons at them including those in the capital.
The report said some of the elite forces, previously known as Republican Guards mostly loyal to the former president, helped Houthis to expand and seize the capital.
After the Houthi takeover in September, reports surfaced that Iran had supported the group with necessary weapons and funds.
Since it emerged in early 2000s, the Houthi Group has been accused by Yemeni government of having links with and receiving support including training and weapons from Iran.
It continued to deny that accusation. But after the 2011's uprising, the group started to hold military parades in its stronghold, the governorate of Saada on the border with Saudi Arabia.