ARABIAN SEA — The U.S. has seized yet another vessel containing Iranian-made weapons that was apparently bound for Houthi forces in Yemen.<br /><br />The USS Normandy was conducting maritime security operations when it stopped a stateless dhow in the Arabian Sea on Sunday, February 9, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.<br /><br />Sailors from the missile cruiser boarded the vessel in accordance with international law.<br /><br />They found and seized weapons onboard including 150 Dehlavieh anti-tank missiles, three surface-to-air missiles, thermal imaging weapon scopes, and components used for unmanned aerial and surface vessels.<br /><br />In a statement, the U.S. Central Command explained that these weapons were deemed to be of Iranian origin. <br /><br />These were seized as they were determined to be for Houthi fighters in Yemen, which would violate a UN Security Council Resolution. The resolution prohibits the sale, supply and or transfer of weapons to these fighters.<br /><br />The weapons are now in U.S. custody waiting for final disposition.<br /><br />The statement, which was released on Thursday, also noted that the seized weapons were "identical" to weapons seized by the USS Forrest Sherman in the Arabian Sea in November.
