Thousands of AK-47 assault rifles sit on the flight deck of guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) during an inventory process, Jan. 7. U.S. naval forces seized 2,116 AK-47 assault rifles from a fishing vessel transiting along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen. Photo By: U.S. Navy
On January 10, the United States Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) announced that the 5th Fleet had intercepted a fishing vessel that was smuggling assaults rifles while transiting international waters along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen.
In a statement, the command said that the vessel, which was crewed by six Yemeni nationals, was intercepted in the Gulf of Oman on January 6. At least 2,116 AK-47-type rifles were seized from the vessel.
A U.S. Navy boarding team from patrol coastal ship USS Chinook (PC 9) initially discovered and seized the weapons with support from USS Monsoon (PC 4) and guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68).
A boarding team from patrol coastal ship USS Chinook (PC 9) approaches a fishing vessel in international waters of the Gulf of Oman, Jan. 6. U.S. naval forces seized 2,116 AK-47 assault rifles from a fishing vessel transiting along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen. Photo By: U.S. Navy
Thousands of AK-47 assault rifles sit on the flight deck of guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) during an inventory process, Jan. 7. U.S. naval forces seized 2,116 AK-47 assault rifles from a fishing vessel transiting along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen. Photo By: U.S. Navy
NAVCENT said that the vessel was sailing on a route historically used to traffic “illicit cargo” to the Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen.
“This shipment is part of a continued pattern of destabilizing activity from Iran,” said Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. “These threats have our attention. We remain vigilant in detecting any maritime activity that impedes freedom of navigation or compromises regional security.”
This was the first such seizure by the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet this year. The fleet operates in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandeb and Suez Canal.
Last year, the 5th Fleet intercepted several vessels which were allegedly smuggling weapons, military equipment and dual-use materials to the Houthis. On December 1, forces operating from expeditionary sea base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) seized more than 50 tons of ammunition rounds, fuses and propellants for rockets in the Gulf of Oman.
The U.S. says that its naval operations around Yemen are in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2216, which bans the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of weapons to the Houthis.
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