The US military said it intercepted a ship carrying 40 tons of a fertiliser that can be used to build bombs on its way from Iran to Yemen’s Huthi rebels.
After intercepting the ship in international seas in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday, the navy claimed it boarded and searched it. The ship was arrested with thousands of guns last year and handed over to Yemen’s coast guard.
The US 5th Fleet in Bahrain announced a guided-missile destroyer and patrol ship “interdicted the stateless vessel transiting from Iran… along a path previously used to transfer weapons to the Huthis in Yemen.”
“US forces uncovered 40 tons (36,300 kg) of urea fertiliser, a chemical substance with agricultural purposes that has also been known to be used as an explosive precursor,” the statement continued.
The seizure comes at a time when regional tensions are high, following the Huthis’ deadly drone and missile attack on Abu Dhabi earlier this week, which spurred the Saudi-led coalition to commence airstrikes on Yemen.
