The photo, provided by US military authorities, is said to show the fishing trawler that was intercepted by the US Navy.
Image: AFP
Iran appears to be continuing to deliver arms to civil war-torn Yemen. For the second time this month, the US Navy has secured major shipments at sea.
DThe US Navy says it has confiscated a million rounds of ammunition, rocket detonators and fuel that were supposed to be smuggled from Iran to war-torn Yemen on a fishing boat. The cargo was discovered during an inspection on Thursday, the US Navy’s fifth fleet, based in Bahrain, said on Saturday. It is the second “major confiscation of illegal weapons within a month” on this sea route.
The incident shows “clearly” that Iran continues to “illegally” supply arms to Yemen, thereby destabilizing the region, Vice Admiral Brad Cooper said. The US Navy will therefore continue to focus on “preventing and suppressing dangerous and irresponsible maritime activities in the region”.
In Yemen, war is raging between government forces backed by Arab states and Houthi rebels, backed by Iran. A ceasefire negotiated by the UN reduced the fighting. However, it expired in October. “The direct or indirect supply, purchase or transfer of arms to the Houthis of Yemen violates UN Security Council Resolution 2216 and international law,” the US Navy said.
