Seized Iranian weapons intended Houthi rebels in Yemen: US military

On Thursday, the US Navy announced that it had intercepted an Iranian arms shipment in January that was meant for the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been assaulting ships in the Red Sea. The seizure is a part of a larger US attempt to thwart Houthi attacks, which have led to US and British forces retaliating, including a new round of US strikes on Wednesday. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on social media that the US Navy “seized advanced conventional weapons and other lethal aid originating in Iran and bound to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen from a vessel in the Arabian Sea on Jan. 28.” According to the statement, the shipment included more than 200 crates packed with explosives, other devices, and missile components. “This is yet another example of Iran’s malign activity in the region,” CENTCOM chief Michael Erik Kurilla was quoted as saying. “Their continued supply of advanced conventional weapons to the Houthis… continues to undermine the safety of international shipping and the free flow of commerce,” he added. Even before the Red Sea strikes, the United States had raided Yemen-bound weapons shipments it claims originate from Iran. On January 16, it announced the first seizure of Iran-supplied weapons to the Houthis since their attacks started. CENTCOM said US naval forces boarded a boat headed for Yemen and seized Iranian-made missile components and other weaponry in an operation in which two commandos went missing. The Houthis, who control much of war-torn Yemen, have been attacking vital Red Sea shipping lanes since November in a campaign they claim is in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.