US Navy SEALs have intercepted a significant shipment of Iranian-made missile components bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, US Central Command confirmed on Tuesday. The seizure, conducted last week in international waters near the coast of Somalia, showcased the ongoing efforts by US forces to curtail the flow of advanced weaponry to the Iran-aligned militia group engaged in a prolonged conflict in Yemen.
The operation was executed by SEALs launching from the USS Lewis B. Puller, amidst challenging conditions that resulted in two SEALs being reported lost at sea. Despite these difficulties, the commandos successfully retrieved “Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missile components” from a dhow—a traditional sailing vessel. The components seized included “propulsion, guidance, and warheads for medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs)”, which are reported to be of the same type previously used by the Houthis to target international shipping in the Red Sea.
CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla underlined the significance of the seizure, stating, “This is the first seizure of lethal, Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons (ACW) to the Houthis since the beginning of Houthi attacks against merchant ships in November 2023.” He added that “Initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea.”
The operation comes amidst heightened tensions in the region following a series of maritime incidents. Only recently, a Greek-owned cargo ship was struck by a missile off the coast of Yemen, as reported by a maritime risk management company. A string of similar attacks has raised international concern about the potential spillover of violence from the Israel-Hamas conflict, with the Houthis declaring US and British interests as “legitimate targets.”
The 14 crew members aboard the dhow have been detained, with their status “being determined in accordance with international law”, after the seized vessel was deemed unsafe and subsequently sunk. The action marks another episode in the enforcement of United Nations Security Resolution 2216, which prohibits arms transfers to Houthi rebels, a measure that Iran has consistently been accused of violating.
The US and its allies have been monitoring the waters off the Yemeni coast closely. Previous seizures and the ongoing search and rescue efforts for the missing SEALs underscore the challenging nature of these operations in the volatile maritime region. The ongoing conflict in Yemen and the Houthis’ targeting of maritime assets have prompted the US and its allies to step up their presence in the Red Sea—a crucial waterway for global trade.
Relevant articles:
– US says it seized advanced Iranian weapons bound for Houthis in Yemen
– U.S. says it seized Iran missile parts bound for the Houthis after SEALs went overboard, NBC News, Tue, 16 Jan 2024 12:06:25 GMT
– US officials say Iranian-made weapons intended for Houthis were seized in raid, CNN, Tue, 16 Jan 2024 13:38:00 GMT
– U.S. Seizes Iranian Missile Parts Bound for Yemen’s Houthis, TIME, Tue, 16 Jan 2024 13:46:54 GMT