4 Charged by U.S. for Smuggling Iranian-Made Weapons Into Yemen

The U.S. Justice Department has brought charges against four individuals from abroad following the interception of a dhow carrying Iranian-produced arms in the Arabian Sea, as revealed in a recently unveiled criminal complaint.

This operation, which took place on the evening of January 11, involved the efforts of U.S. Navy forces from the USS Lewis B. Puller, including Navy SEALs and the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team East. They boarded a dhow without a flag off Somalia's coast in the Arabian Sea.

U.S. personnel discovered and confiscated Iranian-manufactured sophisticated weapons during the dhow's inspection, including parts for medium-range ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles. These armaments match those used by Houthi insurgents in their recent assaults on commercial and U.S. naval vessels.

This event represents the initial seizure of such high-grade weapons since the Houthi's escalated their attacks on merchant vessels in November 2023.

Fourteen sailors found on the dhow were detained and taken aboard the USNS Lewis B. Puller for interrogation. By February 11, arrest warrants were issued for four of these individuals, identified as Muhammad Pahlawan, Mohammad Mazhar, Ghufran Ullah, and Izhar Muhammad, with Pakistani identification purportedly found for each. Additionally, arrest warrants were secured for ten other people on the ship to serve as material witnesses.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed his condolences for the two Navy SEALs who perished on January 11 during a mission in the Arabian Sea, stating, “The Justice Department extends our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the two Navy SEALs who lost their lives on January 11th while conducting an operation in the Arabian Sea.” He affirmed the Justice Department's commitment to using all legal measures to prosecute those involved in transferring arms from Iran to Houthi rebels, Hamas, and other entities threatening the security of the U.S. and its allies.

FBI Director Christopher Wray also emphasized the agency's determination to thoroughly investigate and counter the Iranian Government's efforts to equip Houthi rebels with missile components intended for attacks on U.S. military and merchant ships, as well as Israel.