US Navy Seals seized dangerous weapons that Iran was smuggling to arm Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea during a daring raid.
The lethal aid – including warheads for ballistic and anti-ship missiles – was been captured in a raid last week that saw two US commandos go missing.
US Navy seized lethal weapons on route to Houthi rebels in YemenRex
Some smuggled goods appear to be warheads for ballistic missiles
The weapons were smuggled camouflaged amid fishing nets and other materials
The pair disappeared after trying to board a ship that was carrying illegal goods to Yemen.
They fell into the rough waters on Thursday night while attempting to raid the ship off the coast of Somalia, NBC reports.
One Seal fell into the sea while trying to climb onto a small boat – and the other jumped in to save him as they both vanished.
They were reportedly sent out on a secret mission usually carried out only by the most elite soldiers amid the ongoing Red Sea crisis.
Search and rescue efforts, via sea and air, are continuing in a desperate bid to track them down.
In the meantime, the officials said a new ship in the Red Sea was targeted by what appeared to be Houthi fire, although it only suffered minor damage and no one was hurt.
The US navy operation is the most recent interception of armament shipments intended for the rebels.
The Houthis have been waging a series of attacks over Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Their actions have put international traffic in jeopardy in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The seized missile components included types likely used in those attacks.
The attacks, the raid and the retaliatory strikes by US have all escalated the tensions throughout the Middle East with Iran also launching ballistic missile strikes in Syria and Iraq.
According to Central Command, the Seals discovered warheads along with propulsion and guidance system components for both cruise and ballistic missiles.
It added that air defense parts also were found.
Iran-backed Houthis have been using these weapons to intimidate and attack innocent mariners on international cargo ships transiting through the Red Sea.
The footage released by the US military appears to show parts resembling rocket motors and a cruise missile with a small turbojet engine – a kind used by the Houthis and Iran.
The smugglers were reportedly planning to transfer the contraband onto another boat off the coast of Somalia, a defence official said.
All 14 crew members of the smuggler ship have been detained.
The US Navy sunk the ship after confiscating the weapons – a common practice that often involves blowing open holes in the hull.
The central command general, Micael Erik Kurilla, said: “It is clear that Iran continues shipment of advanced lethal aid to the Houthis.”
A UN resolution forbids the delivery of weapons to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Tehran has persistently denied providing the rebels with arms despite tangible proof, multiple seizures and expert testimony linking the weapons back to Iran.
Kurilla added: “The seizure is yet another example of how Iran actively sows instability throughout the region.
“We will continue to work with regional and international partners to expose and interdict these efforts, and ultimately to reestablish freedom of navigation.”
Meanwhile, a Houthi-fired missile has hit a Greek-owned cargo ship on Tuesday.
The incident took place 100 nautical miles north west of Saleef, United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.
The attack comes after the Iran-backed Houthis hit a US-owned cargo ship after firing a three-rocket barrage on Monday.
The port side of the vessel was hit “from above” by one of the missiles, with the other two failing to reach the sea.
It came just hours after a US warship downed a cruise missile fired by the Houthi rebels.
Since November, The Houthis have been repeatedly attacking ships in the Red Sea, claiming they were retaliating over Israel’s onslaught against Hamas in Gaza.
But they have regularly targeted ships that have unclear ties to Israel, endangering cargo along a vital corridor for international trade.
The attacks threaten to widen the conflict into a regional conflagration.
The US navy sunk the boat after detaining all 14 crew members and confiscating weaponsRex
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