UK Navy seizes Iranian missiles bound for Houthis

Agencies | London                                              

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

A British Royal Navy vessel seized a sophisticated shipment of Iranian missiles in the Gulf of Oman earlier this year, officials said yesterday, confirming that Tehran is arming the Houthis against Arab Coalition.

Citing a forensic analysis last month, the British navy linked the batch of rocket engines seized earlier this year to an Iranian-made cruise missile with a 1,000-kilometer range that it said the Houthis have used against Saudi Arabia.

The HMS Montrose’s helicopter had been scanning for illicit goods in the Gulf of Oman on January 28 and February 25 when it spotted small vessels speeding away from the Iranian coast with “suspicious cargo on deck.”

A team of Royal Marines then halted and searched the boats, confiscating the weapons in international waters south of Iran. A US Navy guided-missile destroyer supported the British warship’s February operation.

Fifth Fleet Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said the seizure reflected the Navy’s “strong commitment to regional security and stability.” The Houthis also used the cruise missile to attack an oil facility in Abu Dhabi in January of this year.