UN Inspectors Examine Weapons Found Near Yemen

UN inspectors entered the American destroyer present in the Persian Gulf on Thursday, November 25, to investigate weapons discovered two months ago near Yemen. It had previously been suggested that these weapons were sent by Iran to the Houthis in Yemen, but American officials stated they would wait for the conclusion of the UN inspectors' investigation. These light weapons include over 2,500 Kalashnikov rifles, which were seized approximately two months ago in the waters around Yemen by the guided missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham. According to the Associated Press, these weapons 'were likely loaded from Somalia destined for Yemen,' but the place of manufacture and how they entered the smuggling network remains unclear. Several journalists allowed to board the American destroyer reported that the Kalashnikovs were piled in a corner of the destroyer and showed signs of rust due to being exposed to the region's weather for two months. The newly discovered weapons are only a small part of the smuggled arms that have been discovered and seized by American ships in the region. The United States, the European Union, and Arab countries in the region have repeatedly accused Iran of sending weapons to Yemen and described the actions of the Islamic Republic in Yemen as 'destabilizing,' but Iran denies these accusations. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has repeatedly criticized the actions of the Islamic Republic in the region and the world, stating in a speech a month ago at the UN General Assembly that the leaders of the Islamic Republic 'sow seeds of chaos, death, and destruction.' Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, has also held Ayatollah Khamenei 'responsible for the suffering of the Yemeni people,' and John Bolton, the White House National Security Advisor, has noted that despite the 'powerful impact that U.S. sanctions have had on the Iranian economy,' Iran's 'aggressive activities in the region, including Yemen,' continue. Several European countries, including the Chancellor of Germany, have called for an immediate halt to Iran's actions in the region, and NATO members have expressed concern over Iran's actions and its missile activities. Iran has always denied sending weapons to the Houthis in Yemen and, in turn, has accused Saudi Arabia and its allies of 'war crimes' in that country. The Washington Post reported that the new weapons seized by the American destroyer were discovered from a ship 70 miles off the southern waters of Yemen. Admiral Scott Stearney, commander of U.S. naval forces in the Middle East, stated on Thursday that American officials have conducted preliminary investigations regarding these weapons, but decisions about them will be made after the UN inspectors conclude their investigation. According to the Washington Post, this military official also mentioned that members of the inspection group specialize in weapons that have exited Iran, Yemen, and Somalia. The Washington Post also noted that no shipment of the size of the current one had been seized in the last two years, indicating that the smuggling route for weapons to the Houthis has changed or that the shipment of weapons has shifted to smaller loads. UN Security Council resolutions prohibit the sending of weapons to Yemen. The internal conflicts in Yemen and the Saudi-led coalition's attacks on the country have resulted in over 10,000 deaths and two million displaced persons, putting the country at risk of widespread famine.