MOSCOW, October 27 (RIA Novosti) - Yemen's navy has seized in its territorial waters in the Red Sea an Iranian ship loaded with anti-tank weaponry, Al-Arabiya satellite television reported citing government sources.

The ship, crewed by five Iranians and one Indian, was reportedly carrying the shipment to Yemen's northern coast to be later delivered to the Shiite Zaidi rebels in the Saada province.

Shiite rebels, led by Abdul-Malek al-Huthi, have been embroiled in a war with the Yemeni government since 2004.

According to the United Nations, at least 3,500 people died in the conflict, and the fighting has caused over 150,000 civilians to flee their homes, resulting in a severe humanitarian crisis.

Hundreds have died in the latest clashes after the army launched on August 11 its 'Operation Scorched Earth' aimed at capturing the rebels' stronghold in Saada.

The Shiite Zaidi rebels are a minority in the mainly Sunni Yemen, but form the majority of the population in the mountainous northern region of the country.

Yemen has repeatedly accused Shiite-dominated Iran of backing the rebels.