US Discovers and Seizes 'Iran-Made Weapons' for Houthis

US defense officials stated that American military forces, in a mission to disrupt arms trafficking to Yemen's Houthi rebels, discovered and seized Iranian-made missile warheads and related components from a vessel near the waters off Somalia, subsequently sinking the vessel. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Monday, January 15, that CENTCOM naval forces intercepted a vessel transporting advanced lethal auxiliary weapons illegally from Iran to the Houthis in Yemen during a nighttime flag verification operation on January 11, 2024. The US Navy deemed the seized vessel unsafe and sank it. The status of the 14 crew members will be determined according to international law. According to CENTCOM, the delivery of these weapons to the Houthis comes as they are attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea. In this operation, two US special forces members went missing. High waves threw one of them off the ladder connected to the vessel, and the other entered the water according to protocol to assist his colleague. Operations to locate them are ongoing. CENTCOM stated that during this operation, conducted near the shores of Somalia in international waters of the Arabian Sea, components of Iranian-made ballistic and cruise missiles were seized. Other seized items included propulsion systems, guidance systems, warheads for the Houthis' medium-range ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and components related to air defense. CENTCOM said initial analysis indicates that the Houthis have used these weapons to attack or threaten international commercial vessels passing through the Red Sea. CENTCOM noted that this is the first seizure of advanced conventional lethal weapons from Iran for the Houthis since the Houthis began attacking commercial vessels in November 2023. The supply, sale, or transfer of weapons directly or indirectly to the Houthis in Yemen violates UN Security Council Resolution 2216 and international law. Ongoing insecurity in the Red Sea; another transport vessel was targeted by a missile attack. CENTCOM: Houthis backed by the Islamic Republic attacked a US-owned vessel with missiles. Tensions in the Gulf of Aden; Houthis claimed responsibility for the recent attack on a US vessel. Two members of the US Navy SEALs went missing off the coast of Somalia.