US seizes weapons shipment headed from Iran to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen
THE HILL: U.S. forces seized an advanced weapons shipment from Iran headed to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, according to a U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) statement Thursday.
U.S. forces found more 200 packages of lethal weapons on a vessel intended to support the Houthis that have been firing missiles in the Red Sea and disrupting international shipments in the region.
The U.S. Coast Guard seized unmanned underwater-surface vehicle components, explosives, network equipment, anti-tank missile launcher assemblies, medium-range ballistic missile components and other lethal equipment, according to the Thursday statement.
“This is yet another example of Iran’s malign activity in the region,” CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said in a statement. “Their continued supply of advanced conventional weapons to the Houthis is in direct violation of international law and continues to undermine the safety of international shipping and the free flow of commerce.”
The Houthis have been firing missiles and performing drone strikes on commercial ships since last November in an effort to protest Israel’s military operations in Gaza and show solidarity with Palestinians. Due to the onslaught on the shipping vessels, some companies have redirected ships to around the southern tip of Africa, a longer path that costs more.
CENTCOM also announced Thursday that U.S. forces downed seven mobile anti-ship missiles, three unmanned aerial vehicles and one drone in the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The weaponry was destroyed in four strikes that, CENTCOM says, were in defense of the U.S. Navy and commercial ships in the area.
In World
-
Russia has supplied air defense missile systems to North Korea in exchange for sending its troops to support Russia's war efforts against Ukraine, a top South Korean official said Friday.
-
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te will visit Taipei's three remaining diplomatic allies in the Pacific on a trip starting at the end of the month, his office said on Friday, but the government declined to give details on U.S. transit stops.
-
Russia is ready to consider any "realistic" peace initiative on the conflict in Ukraine which takes into account Russia's own interests and the situation on the ground, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.
-
China is willing to conduct active dialogue with the United States based on the principles of mutual respect and promote the development of bilateral economic and trade relations, vice commerce minister Wang Shouwen said on Friday.
Leave a review