Illegal Iranian warheads intended for Houthi rebels in Yemen were seized in a deadly nighttime raid of a dhow in the Red Sea last week.
Photos of the January 11 operation show the boat involved and the missile parts that were seized aboard it in an attempt to defeat the Houthi rebels' missile attacks on shipping vessels.
Identified suspicious vessel at night
The operation marked the first seizure of Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons to the Houthis since the rebels launched the series of attacks against commercial shipping in key waterways since late last year.
Earlier this month, the US, UK, and other allies launched strikes against the Houthis in retaliation, but the Iran-supplied militant group has continued to attack commercial vessels.
Boarding team operation
After identifying the dhow was carrying suspicious cargo, US Navy SEALs operating from USS Lewis B. Puller conducted a mission known as a visit, board, search, and seizure, or VBSS.
Under the cover of night, the SEALs approached the dhow in a fast combatant craft and clambered up a ship's ladder to detain its crew while searching its holds for weapons bound for Yemen. They were supported by helicopters and flying drones.
A former Special Forces soldier described operations like the one conducted in the Red Sea as "dangerous" and "complex."
"When you throw in nighttime, everything gets more complicated," Lino Miani, a retired Green Beret and combat diver, told Business Insider's Jake Epstein.
Missing Navy SEALs
In a rare occurrence, two US Navy SEALs directly involved in the operation were reported missing at sea — one SEAL slipped off the ladder, and his teammate jumped in to save him. They were later presumed dead on Sunday following an "exhaustive" 10-day search.
Search-and-rescue teams failed to recover the bodies of the missing SEALs after surveying 21,000 square miles.
In violation of international law
Following the seizure of the dhow's cargo, the ship was considered "unsafe" and sunk by the Navy SEALs. The disposition of the 14 crewmembers aboard is being determined.
"It is clear that Iran continues shipment of advanced lethal aid to the Houthis," Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, the CENTCOM commander, said in a statement. "This is yet another example of how Iran actively sows instability throughout the region in direct violation of UN Security Resolution 2216 and international law."
Seizing the Iranian-made missile parts
Among the weapons seized on board were Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missile parts, such as propulsion, guidance, and warheads for medium range missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles. Air defense parts were also identified in the dhow's cargo.
Analysis by the CENTCOM showed that the missile parts were the same types used in the Red Sea attacks on the commercial vessels.
"We will continue to work with regional and international partners to expose and interdict these efforts, and ultimately to reestablish freedom of navigation," Kurilla said.
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