US Navy halts Iranian smuggling vessel, finds over 2,000 assault rifles

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The U.S. Navy seized more than 2,000 assault rifles after halting a suspected smuggling vessel on its way from Iran to Yemen, the Navy announced Tuesday.

The USS Chinook deployed a boarding team to the vessel in the Gulf of Oman with support from the USS Monsoon and USS The Sullivans on January 6, discovering a crew of Yemeni nationals. The US confiscated 2,116 assault rifles and is in the process of repatriating the ship and its crew, according to a Navy statement.

“This shipment is part of a continued pattern of destabilizing activity from Iran,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. “These threats have our attention. We remain vigilant in detecting any maritime activity that impedes freedom of navigation or compromises regional security.”

The Yemeni-crewed ship was the third fishing vessel to be found smuggling lethal aid from Iran to Houthi rebels in Yemen since November. U.S. forces also seized more than 50 tons of ammunition rounds, fuses and propellants for rockets on December 1. The Sullivans, USS Hurricane and USCG John Scheuerman also intercepted more than 70 tons of chemicals used to make rocket propellant and explosives on November 8.

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An Iranian smuggling vessel halted by U.S. Navy forces.

The U.S. Navy confiscated 2,000 assault rifles being smuggled out of Iran to Yemen. (US Navy)

The U.S. Navy routinely patrols common smuggling routes in the Gulf of Oman. Iranian vessels smuggling weapons to Yemen must travel east through the gulf before heading south to Yemen.

International law and the U.N. Security Council ban the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

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The U.S. Navy has a long history of interactions with Iranian vessels in the area as well. Three Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy vessels (IRGCN) confronted a U.S. convoy in the Strait of Hormuz in June 2022, with one of the vessels closing within 50 yards of the USS Sirocco.

“One of the IRGCN vessels approached Sirocco head-on at a dangerously high speed and only altered course after the U.S. patrol coastal ship issued audible warning signals to avoid collision. The Iranian vessel also came within 50 yards of the U.S. Navy ship during the interaction, and Sirocco responded by deploying a warning flare,” the U.S. Navy said of the incident.

U.S. Navy servicemen transfer 2,000 assault rifles confiscated from an Iranian smuggling vessel. (US Navy)

2,000 assault rifles confiscated by the U.S. Navy from Iranian smugglers.

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U.S. warships fired warning shots at Iranian boats during a similar encounter in May 2021.

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.