Amid Red Sea attacks, the US Central Command on Tuesday said it seized Iranian-made advanced weapons bound for Yemen’s Houthis in a raid conducted last week.
The weapons were seized near the coast off Somalia. It consisted “Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components,” US Central Command said in a statement on X.
“Seized items include propulsion, guidance, and warheads for Houthi medium range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), as well as air defense associated components," read the statement.
This is the first seizure of Iran-supplied advanced conventional weapons (ACW) to the Houthis since the beginning of attacks in Red Sea.
Two US Navy SEALs previously reported as lost at sea were directly involved in this operation. “We are conducting an exhaustive search for our missing teammates,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM Commander.
“It is clear that Iran continues shipment of advanced lethal aid to the Houthis. This is yet another example of how Iran actively sows instability throughout the region in direct violation of U.N Security Resolution 2216 and International law,” said Kurilla. He also added that the US will continue to work with regional and international partners to expose these efforts.
USCENTCOM Seizes Iranian Advanced Conventional Weapons Bound for Houthis
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 16, 2024
On 11 January 2024, while conducting a flag verification, U.S. CENTCOM Navy forces conducted a night-time seizure of a dhow conducting illegal transport of advanced lethal aid from Iran to resupply Houthi… pic.twitter.com/yg4PuTZBh7
The US’s announcement came amid another Malta-flagged, Greek-owned vessel was hit with a Houthi missile in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen.
“A Malta-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier was reportedly targeted and impacted with a missile while transiting the southern Red Sea northbound,” Ambrey said in an alert.
The ship, which has visited Israel since the Gaza war and was going to Suez, changed course and headed to port after the incident, Ambrey said.
Earlier, US forces shot down a Houthi cruise missile targeting an American destroyer. While in a counter strike, a US-owned cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman was hit by a missile on Monday.
The US-UK strikes targeting Houthi regions in Yemen had worsened the ongoing Red Sea tensions, that intensified since the Israel-Hamas war.
As the Gaza war continues, Qatar's prime minister on Tuesday batted again for a two-state solution.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll in Gaza crossed 24,000.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as Qatar's foreign minister, said Gaza is not there anymore. “There is nothing over there..It’s carpet bombing everywhere,” he said while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
