US announces seizure of Iranian arms shipment as Houthi rebels attack tanker
The US military’s Central Command said it seized a weapons shipment from Iran last month that had been destined for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have been attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Within hours of the announcement on Thursday, an explosion was reported near a vessel off Yemen, suggesting that a US-led campaign of air strikes has done little to deter the Tehran-backed militia from its attacks.
The Central Command said a US Coastguard cutter under its command had seized “advanced” conventional weapons and other lethal aid from a vessel in the Arabian Sea on January 28.
The shipment, which originated in Iran and was bound for Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, contained more than 200 packages loaded with missile components, explosives and other devices including anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies, the US military said.
“This is yet another example of Iran’s malign activity in the region,” Central Command chief Gen Michael Erik Kurilla said. “Their continued supply of advanced conventional weapons to the Houthis is in direct violation of international law and continues to undermine the safety of international shipping and the free flow of commerce.”
The Houthis have been launching missiles and drones at commercial ships in the Red Sea since shortly after the Israel-Gaza war began.
The rebels claim they are attacking ships with connections to Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in the besieged enclave. However, the US and Israel say many of the vessels attacked have no Israeli links.
Since January 11, the US and Britain have struck Houthi military infrastructure in Yemen, and Washington has conducted dozens of “self-defence” strikes against missiles being prepared for launch.
But the Houthis have shown no sign that they are willing to stand down.
A bulk carrier suffered minor damage on Thursday when a missile exploded near its location, about 185km east of Yemen’s port city of Aden, British maritime security company Ambrey said.
Shrapnel from the strike caused a diesel leak, Ambrey said. None of the vessel’s crew members were wounded, it added.
Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said it had received a report of an explosion near a vessel about 157km east of Aden.
The US said an anti-ship ballistic missile was launched from Houthi-controlled areas into the Gulf of Aden, adding that there were no reports of casualties or damage to ships in the area.
In a speech on Thursday, Abdul Malik Al Houthi, the leader of the Yemeni rebels, accused Washington of launching about 40 strikes this week, most of them on the port of Hodeidah.
He said such retaliatory attacks would not deter his forces from striking vessels if a ceasefire in Gaza is not reached.
He also warned the EU against being drawn into the confrontation, after member states last month gave initial backing to a naval mission to protect commercial ships from attack.