The U.S. Coast Guard fast-response cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr. seized advanced conventional weapons and other lethal aid originating in Iran and bound to Houthi-controlled Yemen from a vessel in the Arabian Sea, Jan. 28, 2024. (U.S. Central Command)
U.S. maritime forces in the Middle East recently seized advanced weaponry stashed aboard a ship from Iran headed to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, military officials said.
A team from the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Clarence Sutphin Jr. discovered more than 200 packages of medium-range ballistic missile components, explosives, and communication and network equipment after boarding the vessel in the Arabian Sea on Jan. 28, U.S. Central Command said Thursday.
They also found underwater and surface drone components, anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies and other military equipment, according to a statement.
“This is yet another example of Iran’s malign activity in the region,” Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of CENTCOM, said in the statement. He added that Iran’s continued supply of advanced conventional weapons to the Houthis violates international law.
The statement did not identify the boarded vessel nor did it say if people aboard the ship were detained.
The U.S. Coast Guard fast-response cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr. seized advanced conventional weapons and other lethal aid originating in Iran and bound to Houthi-controlled Yemen from a vessel in the Arabian Sea, Jan. 28, 2024. (U.S. Central Command)
Naval forces in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility routinely conduct operations to intercept weapons being sent to the Iranian-backed Houthis.
For example, U.S. forces intercepted 2,116 AK-47 rifles in January 2023 from a vessel in the Gulf of Oman along a sea route from Iran to Yemen.
Similar interdictions in late 2022 resulted in the seizures of more than 170 tons of potentially explosive chemicals and 50 tons of ammunition rounds, fuses and rocket propellants from fishing vessels transiting the same area.
The Defense Intelligence Agency confirmed Houthi use of Iranian missiles and aerial drones in the group’s attacks across the Middle East, in a report released this month.
On Wednesday, U.S. forces destroyed seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, three aerial drones and one explosive surface drone prepared to launch from Houthi-controlled territory, CENTCOM also announced Thursday.
The four separate strikes conducted over a time span of about 6.5 hours were in defense of ships in the Red Sea, the command said.
