U.S. Military Seizes major Iranian Arms Shipment Bound for Yemen
The U.S. military has intercepted a important cache of weapons believed to be supplied by Iran to houthi rebels in yemen. The seizure, described by U.S.Central Command (CENTCOM) as a “massive Iranian shipment,” included anti-ship missiles similar to those used in recent deadly attacks in the Red Sea, as well as Iranian-made Type 358 anti-aircraft missiles. Drone components and warheads were also reportedly found among the intercepted arms.
CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla stated that the intercepted materials contained Farsi manuals and that many of the systems were manufactured by a company affiliated with the Iranian Ministry of Defense, wich is currently under U.S. sanctions. “The interdiction of this massive Iranian shipment shows that Iran remains the most destabilizing actor in the region,” Kurilla said, emphasizing that limiting Iranian support to the Houthis is crucial for regional security, stability, and freedom of navigation.
The Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, have been engaged in a protracted conflict that has devastated the nation and created a severe humanitarian crisis. Despite Iran’s denials of arming the rebels, Tehran-manufactured weaponry has been previously discovered on the battlefield and in intercepted shipments destined for Yemen, even amidst a United Nations arms embargo. The war has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and exacerbated the humanitarian disaster in the already impoverished country.