US Charges Four Men for Transporting Iranian-Made Weapons

Fri Feb 23 2024
icon-facebook icon-twitter icon-whatsapp

WASHINGTON: Four men have been charged after the US Navy intercepted a ship in the Arabian Sea last month that was transporting suspected Iranian-made arms, the US Justice Department said on Thursday.

Two US Navy Seals died during the operation, which took place in international waters near the coast of Somalia.

In a statement after the seizure of the ship, the US Central Command said the seized weapons consisted of both Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components.

CENTCOM said seized items include guidance, propulsion, and warheads for Houthi medium range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), as well as air defense components.

According to the initial analysis the same weapons have been used by the Houthis to attack and threaten innocent mariners on international merchant vessels in the Red Sea.

The weapons parts were seized from a small dhow, a traditional vessel. Fourteen crewmembers were arrested during in the operation.

The seizure of the arms came after US and British forces hit scores of Houthi targets across Yemen. Attacks by Houthis, have raised concerns about violence spreading in the area from the war in Gaza.

The Houthis say their attacks on Red Sea are in reaction to the Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza.

icon-facebook icon-twitter icon-whatsapp