(RepublicanNews.org) – The announcement of what is believed to be the first seizure of Iranian weapons destined for Yemen since Houthi rebels started a series of attacks in opposition to international trade vessels in the Red Sea two months ago. Despite ongoing search and rescue operations, the two Navy SEALs lost at sea during the mission this month are still not found.
According to a statement released by U.S. Central Command, a dhow carrying advanced lethal aid from Iran was seized by U.S. CENTCOM Navy forces during a nighttime flag verification operation on January 11, 2024. The dhow was resupplying Houthi forces in Yemen, who are engaged in a continuing wave of assaults against international merchant shipping.
In the Arabian Sea, U.S. Navy SEALs from USS Lewis B Puller (ESB 3), aided by helicopters and UAVs, carried out a complex boarding of the dhow near the Somali coast. The statement said that they seized components of ballistic and cruise missiles made in Iran.
Based on preliminary findings, the Houthis have used these same weapons to prey on unsuspecting sailors on foreign commerce ships navigating the Red Sea, according to CENTCOM.
The two United States Navy SEALs who were earlier said to have been lost at sea were participating in this mission, according to CENTCOM.
Efforts to locate the sailors alive are ongoing. However, they have not been officially named as of yet.
A report shows that strikes in Yemen were conducted on January 10th by the US and the United Kingdom, hitting 28 sites and over 60 targets with bombs and cruise missiles fired from warships, fighter planes, and a submarine. The United States has said that missile stores, radars, and command centers, some of which were located in inaccessible mountain regions, were among the targets.
Although they claimed that six of their soldiers were injured and five were killed in the attacks, the Houthis have still not admitted how bad the damage was.
Copyright 2024, RepublicanNews.org
