Vessel with Iranian-made weapons onboard seized in Arabian Sea

Vessel with Iranian-made weapons onboard seized in Arabian Sea

ARABIAN SEA — The U.S. has seized yet another vessel containing Iranian-made weapons that was apparently bound for Houthi forces in Yemen.

The USS Normandy was conducting maritime security operations when it stopped a stateless dhow in the Arabian Sea on Sunday, February 9, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

Sailors from the missile cruiser boarded the vessel in accordance with international law.

They found and seized weapons onboard including 150 Dehlavieh anti-tank missiles, three surface-to-air missiles, thermal imaging weapon scopes, and components used for unmanned aerial and surface vessels.

In a statement, the U.S. Central Command explained that these weapons were deemed to be of Iranian origin.

These were seized as they were determined to be for Houthi fighters in Yemen, which would violate a UN Security Council Resolution.

The resolution prohibits the sale, supply and or transfer of weapons to these fighters.

The weapons are now in U.S. custody waiting for final disposition.

The statement, which was released on Thursday, also noted that the seized weapons were "identical" to weapons seized by the USS Forrest Sherman in the Arabian Sea in November.