US Navy intercepts fishing boat smuggling over 2,000 AK-47 rifles from Iran to Shi’ite jihadis in Yemen

BY ROBERT SPENCER

SEE: https://www.jihadwatch.org/2023/01/us-navy-intercepts-fishing-boat-smuggling-over-2000-ak-47-rifles-from-iran-to-shiite-jihadis-in-yemen;

Republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, & research purposes.

Despite nationwide protests, the Islamic Republic remains as belligerent in the international arena as it has always been. This could be evidence that the mullahs aren’t in the least worried about being overthrown, or simply evidence that they want to give the appearance of being unworried.

“US Navy Ships Caught a Fishing Boat Smuggling Over 2,000 AK-47 Rifles from Iran,” by Jake Epstein, Business Insider, January 10, 2023:

US Navy forces recently intercepted a fishing vessel smuggling thousands of AK-47 rifles from Iran to Yemen, the US military said on Tuesday.

The vessel, which was crewed by six Yemeni nationals, was sailing through the Gulf of Oman on January 6 when it was caught, US 5th Fleet said in a statement. A team from the patrol coastal ship USS Chinook discovered and boarded the ship with support from fellow Cyclone-class patrol ship USS Monsoon and the guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans. Navy forces found that the ship was carrying 2,116 AK-47 assault rifles.

The vessel was traveling along a route historically understood to be used for the transfer of lethal aid to Yemen’s Houthi rebels — a violation of a UN Security Council resolution and international law, 5th Fleet said….

Over the past few months, US forces have intercepted several vessels transferring lethal aid from Iran to Yemen. In November, 5th Fleet seized a “massive amount” of explosive chemical material that can be used to fuel ballistic missiles. A few weeks later, the service said it recovered more than 50 tons of ammunition and rocket parts….

Malign Iranian activities have been reported in waters off the coast of Middle East countries multiple times in recent weeks — sometimes leading to run-ins with US Navy and US Coast Guard vessels….