A US Coast Guard ship successfully intercepted a shipment of weapons that were intended for a militant group. The seizure was announced by US Central Command on Thursday.
In a statement, the command announced that on Jan. 28, personnel aboard the Coast Guard cutter Clarence Sutphin Jr. successfully located and boarded a vessel. However, no further details were provided regarding the operator of the boat or any other specifics. However, the command stated that the shipment originated from Iran, as per Politico.
US Coast Guard Seizes Lethal Aid
Coast Guardsmen in the Arabian Sea managed to board a vessel that was heading from Iran to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Central Command disclosed the find of more than 200 packages containing components for medium-range ballistic missiles, explosives, and military-grade equipment for communication, missile launching, and underwater vehicles.
General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of CENTCOM, condemned the incident, labeling it as another example of Iran's disruptive activities in the region. The seized vessel's operator was not disclosed by the command.
The Houthi rebels, regarded as an Iranian proxy militia, have been disrupting global shipping in the Red Sea, citing objections to Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip. The US has escalated actions against Iranian-backed forces in Yemen and neighboring countries since January, culminating in the reclassification of the Houthis as a terrorist organization after two Navy SEALS lost their lives in clashes.
The intercepted weaponry included materials essential for ballistic missiles, anti-tank rockets, explosives, and communication equipment. CENTCOM described the seized cargo as 'lethal aid originating in Iran,' violating UN Security Council Resolution 2216, according to Daily Beast.
Read Also: Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE Jockey For Influence in Sudan as Threat of Famine Increases
Houthi Attacks Rise
Houthi attacks on US military and commercial vessels intensified following a deadly blast at the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza in mid-October, coinciding with the Israel-Hamas conflict outbreak. The rebels vowed to continue targeting vessels until Israel ceases military operations in Gaza.
General Michael Erik Kurilla emphasized the gravity of Iran's actions, violating international law and jeopardizing the safety of international shipping. Iranian officials have yet to comment on the seizure.
Recent confrontations in the Red Sea saw a British warship downing a Houthi drone, and two Navy SEALS declared lost at sea during a mission to board a ship smuggling Iranian weapons.
As of Wednesday, the US carrier strike group, comprising the USS Eisenhower, USS Philippine Sea, USS Mason, USS Gravely, USS Laboon, and USS Carney, has conducted over 95 intercepts of drones and made more than 240 self-defense strikes on Houthi targets.
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi claimed that Israeli ships were unable to pass through the Gulf of Aden, asserting a significant victory against American and British attempts to secure passage. Houthi militants, controlling populous regions in Yemen, have targeted international commercial ships, forcing companies to alter routes and prompting retaliatory strikes by US and British warplanes.
The attacks, conducted in support of Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas conflict, have heightened tensions in the region, resulting in disruptions to shipping routes and retaliatory actions by the countries involved, Daily Mail reported.
