By Jim Thomas | Thursday, 15 February 2024 04:15 PM EST
Read more at https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/iranian-ship-weapons-equipment/2024/02/15/id/1153785/
U.S. forces intercepted an Iranian vessel packed with missiles and drones bound for Houthi rebels, the Pentagon said Thursday, according to The Washington Times. The seizure, on Jan. 28 in the Red Sea, marked another instance of Iran’s support for the Houthis in their maritime attacks. The operation, reminiscent of a previous January mission where two Navy SEALs perished during the boarding of an Iranian ship, resulted in the discovery of over 200 packages containing various weapons and equipment, including ballistic missile components, explosives, and anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies, along with other weapons and equipment.
“This is yet another example of Iran’s malign activity in the region,” said Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, emphasizing Iran’s violation of international law and its continuing threat to maritime security.
The Houthis, backed by Iran, have launched numerous attacks using drones and missiles on ships since October, it says in retaliation for events related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. While the U.S. has been targeting Houthi operations in Yemen, including intercepting drones and missiles, the use of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) poses a new challenge. Rear Adm. Marc Miguez described USVs as an “unknown threat” with potentially lethal capabilities, highlighting the difficulty in gathering intelligence on Houthi weaponry. The Houthis’ aggression toward commercial and military vessels has escalated, prompting continuous patrols and interception efforts by the U.S. Navy in the region, Stars and Stripes reported.
The Houthis “have ways of obviously controlling them just like they do the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles), and we have very little fidelity as to all the stockpiles of what they have USV-wise,” Miguez said.
The carrier strike group, led by the USS Eisenhower and accompanying ships, has conducted more than 95 intercepts and more than 240 self-defense strikes on more than 50 Houthi targets. The strike group’s recent success includes intercepting and destroying seven anti-ship cruise missiles and an explosive USV poised for launch in the Red Sea, according to a U.S. Central Command report released Thursday.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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