The US Navy has seized a fishing vessel smuggling more than 50 tons of ammunition, fuzes and rocket propellant in the Gulf of Oman en route from Iran to Yemen.
US Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain said in a statement on Saturday It said it was “the second major seizure of illegal weapons in less than a month” along a maritime route.
U.S. Navy Central Command Commander Lt. Gen. Brad Cooper said, “This critical blockage clearly demonstrates Iran’s continued illicit aid transfers and destabilizing actions.” .
“The U.S. Navy remains committed to deterring and disrupting dangerous and irresponsible maritime activities in the region,” he stressed.
the statement also said trawler, The intercepted Thursday was carrying “about 7,000 rocket fuzes and more than 2,100 kilograms of propellant used to launch rocket-propelled grenades.”
“The direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of arms to the Houthis in Yemen violates UN Security Council Resolution 2216 and international law,” the statement added.
last month US Navy said It sank a ship carrying “explosives” from Iran and supplied the Houthis with enough power to fuel a dozen ballistic rockets.
The Houthis have received military and political support from Iran in their conflicts with other Yemenis, who have been backed by the Saudi-led coalition since 2014. as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Shiite militias in Iraq.
