The U.S. military announced today (Tuesday) that forces have successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle advanced Iranian weapons destined for Houthi rebels in Yemen.
According to the U.S. military statement, the incident occurred last week when naval forces intercepted a ship sailing in the Arabian Sea near the coast of Somalia. The vessel was found to be carrying ballistic missiles and cruise missiles of Iranian origin, along with warheads, navigation equipment, anti-ship missiles, and air defense components. Subsequently, it was reported that 14 crew members on the ship were detained, and the ship was sunk by the military.
An initial investigation by the military revealed that the identified weapons were previously used by the Houthi rebels in attacks against merchant ships in the Red Sea. This marks the first time since 2019 that the U.S. forces have intercepted the smuggling of Iranian weapons, and it is also the first such operation at sea since the beginning of the Houthi attacks on maritime trade routes last November.
"It is clear that Iran continues to supply lethal weapons to the Houthis, providing further evidence that Iran is working to destabilize the Middle East, violating international law and UN decisions," said General Eric Korale, the commander of U.S. Central Command. "We will continue to work together with our allies in the region and around the world to uncover and thwart these attempts and to restore freedom of navigation and maritime order."