US Navy seizes Iranian missile fuel bound to Yemen
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Hashim Sheikh
- . November 16, 2022
- . Update: November 16, 2022 7:02 pm
The U.S. Navy has, on Tuesday, found 70 tonnes of missile fuel component that was hidden among bags of fertilizer aboard a ship from Iran to Yemen. The Navy said the amount of ammonium perchlorate that was discovered on the ship bound to Yemen, can fuel more than a dozen medium range ballistic missiles. It is to be noted that these are the same weapons that have been used by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels to target forces which are allied to the country’s internationally recognized government and also the Saudi-led coalition.
The seize of fuel comes after Iran has threatened the US, Saudi Arabia and other nations over criticism of the crackdown by Iranian regime on widespread protests across the country which are calling for the overthrowing of the regime in Tehran. The leaders and regime have blamed the West for fueling the protests against the authoritarian regime that has led to killing of 344 people and thousands arrested.
“This type of shipment and just the massive volume of explosive material is a serious concern because it is destabilizing,” Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins, a spokesperson for Navy’s Mideast-based 5th Fleet, said while talking to The Associated Press. “The unlawful transport of weapons from Iran to Yemen leads to instability and violence.”
Read | UNSC condemns Houthi attack on Yemen’s Al Dabba port threatening global shipping
Under an arms embargo imposed by United Nations, the supply of weapons to Houthis has been banned since 2014. Iran’s Mission to the UN has earlier assured of adhering to the arms embargo, even though it has been consistently supplying rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, missiles and other weaponry to the Houthis through vessels.
“The U.S. Coast Guard ship USCGC John Scheuerman and guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans stopped a traditional wooden sailing vessel known as a dhow in the Gulf of Oman on Nov. 8,” the US Navy said.
After six month long ceasefire of Yemen fire expired in October, with no results to the diplomatic efforts of its renewal, there has been a surge in sporadic attacks on civilian zones and areas of international troops.
