American forces strike Yemen's Houthis, seize Iranian weapons shipment heading to militants

 US Central Command says Coast Guard cutter boarded ship carrying more than 200 packages of weapons

US forces have carried out four more self-defense strikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels after a US Coast Guard cutter seized an Iranian arms shipment headed for the terrorist group.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Thursday that its forces launched four self-defense strikes against seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, three mobile unmanned aerial vehicles and an explosive unmanned surface ship in Houthi-controlled areas yesterday afternoon. Did it successfully. of Yemen, which were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea."

"CENTCOM identified these mobile missiles, UAVs, and USVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they present an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the area," it said. "These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer for U.S. naval and merchant vessels."

The strikes came about two weeks after a U.S. Coast Guard ship deployed to the region "seized advanced conventional weapons and other lethal aid from a ship in the Arabian Sea on January 28 originating from Iran and headed to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen." Are. Centcom revealed on Thursday.

US military officials say the Sentinel-class fast-response cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr. detected the ship, boarded it and found more than 200 packages of weapons.

According to CENTCOM, the package included "medium-range ballistic missile components, explosives, unmanned underwater/surface vehicle components, military-grade communications and network equipment, anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies, and other military components".

"This is yet another example of Iran's malign activity in the region," Gen. Michael Eric Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, said in a statement. “Their continued supply of advanced conventional weapons to the Houthis is a direct violation of international law and is undermining the security of international shipping and the free flow of commerce.”

CENTCOM said it is "committed to working with our allies and partners to counter the flow of Iranian lethal assistance to the region by all legitimate means, including U.S. and UN sanctions and interdiction."