In a significant development, the U.S. Navy announced the seizure of Iranian weapons bound for Yemen, marking the first such interception since Houthi rebels initiated their campaign against international merchant shipping in the Red Sea two months ago. However, the operation was not without its challenges, as two Navy SEALs involved in the mission are still missing at sea.
On January 11, 2024, U.S. CENTCOM Navy forces successfully conducted a night-time seizure of a dhow carrying advanced lethal aid from Iran to resupply Houthi forces in Yemen. The Navy SEALs, supported by helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles, executed a complex boarding of the dhow near the coast of Somalia in international waters of the Arabian Sea. The seizure resulted in the confiscation of Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missile components, including propulsion, guidance, warheads, and air defense associated components.
The seized weapons have been identified to be the same ones employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea. This marks the first seizure of lethal, Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons to the Houthis since November 2023 and the first seizure of advanced Iranian-manufactured ballistic missile and cruise missile components by the U.S. Navy since November 2019. Importantly, the supply, sale, or transfer of weapons to the Houthis violates U.N. Security Resolution 2216 and international law.
During the operation, the two U.S. Navy SEALs involved in the mission went missing at sea and search and rescue efforts are currently underway to locate them. General Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM Commander, expressed his commitment to finding the missing SEALs and stated that an exhaustive search is being conducted.
The intercepted dhow was determined to be unsafe and subsequently sunk by the U.S. Navy forces. The disposition of the 14 dhow crewmembers is being determined in accordance with international law. CENTCOM highlighted that Iran’s continued shipment of advanced lethal aid to the Houthis demonstrates its active role in sowing instability in the region, violating U.N. Security Resolution 2216 and international law.
The recent escalation in tensions in the Red Sea is further exacerbated by the Houthi rebels firing a missile at a U.S.-owned ship just off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden. This follows their previous launch of an anti-ship cruise missile towards an American destroyer in the Red Sea. The attacks by the Houthis have disrupted global shipping and have a direct impact on the crucial corridor linking Asian and Mideast energy and cargo shipments to the Suez Canal.
In response to the Houthi attacks, the U.S. and the United Kingdom have initiated strikes in Yemen, targeting 28 locations and hitting over 60 targets using cruise missiles, bombs, fighter jets, warships, and submarines. The strikes have aimed at weapon depots, radars, and command centers, including those in remote mountain areas. The extent of the damage caused by the strikes is yet to be acknowledged by the Houthis.
These recent developments highlight the ongoing conflict in Yemen and the role of external actors in supplying weapons to the Houthis. The seizure of Iranian weapons by the U.S. Navy underscores the need for continued efforts by regional and international partners to expose and interdict such shipments, ultimately seeking to restore freedom of navigation in the region.
As the search for the missing Navy SEALs continues, further updates on the situation will be provided.
