The Pentagon announced a significant operation on Tuesday, revealing the interception of a merchant ship carrying “advanced lethal aid” from Iran to Yemen’s Houthi rebels. This interdiction, which occurred on January 11th, unfortunately resulted in two Navy SEALs going missing.
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the Navy SEALs successfully seized a cache of Iranian-made weaponry. This included ballistic missiles, cruise missile components like propulsion systems, guidance modules, warheads, and elements related to air defense. These weapons, as per CENTCOM’s initial analysis, match those previously used by the
Houthis to threaten and attack international merchant ships in the Red Sea. The operation marks a significant step in countering arms trafficking in the region.
This interdiction is the first of its kind since the escalation of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, which began in November, concurrent with the outbreak of the Israeli-Hamas conflict. CENTCOM emphasized that this was also the first U.S. Navy seizure of advanced Iranian ballistic and cruise missile components since November 2019. The distribution of these weapons to the Houthis contravenes United Nations Security Resolution 2216 and international law.
The operation’s success, however, was marred by an unfortunate incident. During the investigation in rough sea conditions, two Navy SEALs fell overboard and are currently missing. General Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of CENTCOM, stated that an exhaustive search operation is underway for the missing team members.
General Kurilla also stressed Iran’s role in disrupting regional stability, highlighting the importance of continued efforts to expose and intercept such activities. He affirmed the commitment to work with regional and international partners to thwart these attempts and restore freedom of navigation in affected waterways.
The recent operation underscores the ongoing challenges in maintaining regional security and the risks faced by military personnel in executing such critical missions.
