US navy says seizes ammunition en route from Iran to Yemen

Issued on: 03/12/2022 – 16:34Modified: 03/12/2022 – 16:32

The cargo was found on Thursday “throughout a flag verification boarding”, the Bahrain-based United States Fifth Fleet stated in a press release, noting it was the “second main unlawful weapons seizure inside a month” alongside the maritime route.

“This vital interdiction clearly exhibits that Iran’s illegal switch of deadly support and destabilising behaviour continues,” Vice Admiral Brad Cooper stated.

“US naval forces stay targeted on deterring and disrupting harmful and irresponsible maritime exercise within the area.”

The Iran-backed Huthi rebels seized the Yemeni capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene the next 12 months.

Since then, a grinding struggle has killed tons of of 1000’s and pushed the impoverished nation to the brink of famine.

A UN-brokered ceasefire that took impact in April introduced a pointy discount in hostilities. The truce expired in October, although combating largely stays on maintain.

The fishing trawler intercepted on Thursday was carrying almost 7,000 rocket fuses and “over 2,100 kilogrammes of propellant used to launch rocket propelled grenades”, the assertion stated.

“The direct or oblique provide, sale or switch of weapons to the Huthis in Yemen violates UN Safety Council Decision 2216 and worldwide legislation,” it added.

Final month the US navy stated it had scuttled a ship transporting “explosive supplies” from Iran to produce the Huthis, with sufficient energy to gasoline a dozen ballistic rockets.

© 2022 AFP