The US Navy has seized more than 2,100 assault rifles from a vessel in the Gulf of Oman, suspected to be linked to Iran and destined for Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The operation took place last Friday when a team from the USS Chinook boarded a traditional wooden dhow, uncovering the Kalashnikov-style weapons wrapped in green tarps, a typical method for concealing illicit cargo.
Commander Timothy Hawkins of the Navy’s 5th Fleet stated that the intercepted ship was on a route historically used to traffic arms to Yemeni rebels. This recent seizure highlights the ongoing challenge of arms smuggling in the region, as the Yemeni crew will be repatriated to a government-controlled area of Yemen following the incident. The capture underscores the US Navy’s commitment to countering illicit weapon transfers that exacerbate conflicts in the Middle East.
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