CENTCOM Forces Intercept More Than 2,000 Assault Rifles Shipped from Iran (USCENTCOM)
US Navy Seized an Iranian Weapons Ship Heading to Yemen
Reports
Tue, 10-01-2023 03:54 PM, Aden
Aden (South24)
The United States Central Command announced today that it had intercepted on January 6 a ship loaded with weapons that was on its way from Iran to Yemen.
In a statement, the US Navy said it had seized more than 2,100 AK-47 assault rifles while transiting international waters from Iran to Yemen.
US Fifth Fleet spokesman Tim Hawkins said the ship "was sailing on a route historically used to traffic illicit cargo to the Houthis in Yemen."
He added, "The ship's was crewed by six Yemeni nationals. They confirmed the source of the ship. They will be returned to the part controlled by the Yemeni government."
According to the Associated Press, the assault rifles were individually camouflaged in green tarps on board a wooden dhow.
A US patrol coastal ship boarded the vessel which was sailing in international waters in the Gulf of Oman.
In mid-November, the US Navy announced seizing a ship carrying 70 tons of ammonium perchlorate, a powerful oxidizer commonly used to make rocket and missile fuel, as well as 100 tons of urea fertilizer heading to the Houthis.
On December 3, another ship was intercepted in the Arabian Sea carrying more than 50 tons of ammunition rounds, fuses and propellants for rockets.
South24 Center
YemenHouthisIranWeapon ShipmentUSFifth FleetUS Central CommandGulf of Aden