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The Central Command of the US Armed Forces (CENTCOM) reported that the US Navy confiscated elements of Iranian-made ballistic missiles intended for the Yemeni Ansar Allah. The missiles were reportedly found on a ship in the Arabian Sea, which was detained by the US military on January 11, 2024.
The claims were supported wby photographs of the boat, which was reportedly transporting components of Iranian-made ballistic and cruise missiles from Iran to Yemen. A US SEAL team operating from the expeditionary sea base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) boarded a dhow off the coast of Somalia and discovered weapons parts, reads the statement.
The seized weapons reportedly included propulsion, guidance, and warheads for Houthi medium-range ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles, as well as air defense associated components.
“Initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea,” reads the statement.
“This is the first seizure of lethal, Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons (ACW) to the Houthis since the beginning of Houthi attacks against merchant ships in November 2023. The interdiction also constitutes the first seizure of advanced Iranian-manufactured ballistic missile and cruise missile components by the U.S. Navy since November 2019.”
According to CENTCOM, the dhow was sunk and the 14 crew aboard were detained.
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The US SEALs, with the support of helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles, boarded a small boat off the coast of Somalia in the international waters of the Arabian Sea. The two US SEALs who are missing took part in this night boarding operation. LINK
