The U.S. military launched four more self-defense strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels after a U.S. Coast Guard cutter seized an Iranian weapons shipment destined for the insurgents.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Thursday that yesterday afternoon that its forces had “seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, three mobile unmanned aerial vehicles, and four attacks against an explosive unmanned surface ship in Houthi-controlled areas. “The self-defense attack was successful.” Yemeni forces ready to launch against ships in the Red Sea. ”
“CENTCOM has identified these mobile missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and USVs in Houthi-held areas of Yemen and has determined that they pose an imminent threat to U.S. naval vessels and commercial vessels in the region,” it added. “These measures will protect freedom of navigation and make the high seas safer and more secure for the U.S. Navy and commercial vessels.”
The airstrike was carried out on January 28, when a U.S. Coast Guard ship dispatched to the region reported that a ship in the Arabian Sea was carrying advanced conventional weapons and other lethal support from Iran to Yemen’s Houthi-controlled areas. This took place about two weeks after the seizure of supplies. Centcom made the announcement on Thursday.
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Weapons and equipment discovered by the US military on January 28th on board a ship bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels from Iran. (Centcom)
U.S. military officials said the Sentinel-class fast-response cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr. spotted the ship, boarded it and discovered more than 200 weapons packages.
According to CENTCOM, the shipment contained “intermediate-range ballistic missile parts, explosives, unmanned underwater/surface vehicle parts, military-grade communications and network equipment, anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies, and other military parts.” It is said that
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The U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast response cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr. intercepted the ship in the Arabian Sea on January 28. (Centcom)
Images of the tow released show piles of equipment piled up on the ship’s deck.
“This is yet another example of Iran’s malign activity in the region,” CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Eric Kurilla said in a statement. “The continued supply of advanced conventional weapons to the Houthis is in direct violation of international law and continues to undermine international maritime security and free commerce.”
Houthi fighters march on the outskirts of Sanaa on January 22 at a rally in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and against the US attack on Yemen. (AP)
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CENTCOM added that it is “committed to working with allies and partners to counter Iran’s lethal aid flow in the region through all lawful means, including U.S. and United Nations sanctions and interdiction.”
FOX News’ Liz Frieden contributed to this report.
