The boarding team recover the arms cache with HMS Montrose providing cover. Source: the Royal Navy.
On July 7, the Royal Navy announced that it had seized Iranian weapons from speedboats being operated by smugglers in the Arabian Sea.
In a statement, the Royal Navy said that two seizures took place on January 28 and February 25. The seizures were carried out by HMS Montrose. The frigate’s Wildcat helicopter spotted the vessels smuggling illicit goods moving at speed away from the Iranian coast.
During the February interdiction, United States Navy destroyer USS Gridley supported efforts by deploying a Seahawk helicopter to provide critical overwatch during the operation. On both occasions, the Wildcat helicopter pursued the vessels and reported back to HMS Montrose that they could see suspicious cargo on deck.
The vessels were later approached by a team of Royal Marines on two Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats. Upon inspection, dozens of packages containing advanced weaponry were discovered, confiscated and brought back to HMS Montrose.
Royal Marine Commandos secure one of the arms hauls. Source: the Royal Navy.
The seized weapons included multiple engines for the Iranian-made 351 land attack cruise missile and a batch of 358 anti-aircraft missiles. Both missiles are known to be in service with the Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen.
Some of the weaponry and weapons parts seized by HMS Montrose. Source: the Royal Navy.
This is the first time a British Naval warship has interdicted a vessel carrying such sophisticated weapons from Iran. Tehran has not commented on the issue, yet.
“The UK is committed to upholding international law, from standing up to aggression in Europe to interdicting illegal shipments of weaponry that perpetuates instability in the Middle East,” said Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey. “The UK will continue to work in support of an enduring peace in Yemen and is committed to international maritime security so that commercial shipping can transit safely without threat of disruption.”
The Royal Navy anti-smuggling operations in the Arabian Sea are clearly meant to support the Saudi-led coalition’s war on the Houthis in Yemen. The UK has been one of the main backers of the Saudi intervention in Yemen since its beginning more than seven years ago.
