Click to see full-size image. (The U.S. Central Command)
On February 15, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its forces carried out more strikes against the Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen and seized a weapons shipment that was destined to the Iranian-backed group in the Arabian Sea.
In a statement, the command said that four “self-defense” strikes targeted seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, three mobile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and one explosive unmanned surface vessel (USV) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on February 14.
“CENTCOM identified these mobile missiles, UAVs, and USV in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined it presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region,” the command said. “These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.”
The command announced in a separate statement that a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, forward deployed to its area of responsibility in the Middle East, seized advanced conventional weapons and other lethal aid originating in Iran and bound to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen from a vessel in the Arabian Sea on January 28.
Click to see full-size image. (The U.S. Central Command)
A boarding team from U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast-response cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr discovered over 200 packages aboard the vessel, including medium-range ballistic missile components, explosives, unmanned underwater and surface vehicle components, military-grade communication and network equipment, anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies and other military components, according to the command.
“This is yet another example of Iran’s malign activity in the region, ” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander. “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 targeted dozens of Israel-affiliated vessels and others owned by the U.S. and the United Kingdom in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 19 in response to the ongoing Israeli war and siege on the Gaza Strip, which has so far claimed the lives of more than 28,000 Palestinians.
The U.S. and the UK retaliated by carrying out dozens of strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen in recent weeks. Nevertheless, the group has not changed its stance.
