Latest news with #CENTCOM
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Iran Responds to Massive US Weapons Bust
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Iran has denied U.S. accusations that it is fueling the war in Yemen through arms transfers to Houthi rebels, following what U.S. officials called the largest-ever seizure of Iranian-made weapons bound for the group. Iran's foreign ministry dismissed the claim as "baseless." Newsweek has reached out the Pentagon for comment. Why It Matters The allegation, announced by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), comes amid escalating Red Sea tensions after Houthi forces resumed deadly attacks on commercial shipping in what they say is support for Palestinians in Gaza. The seized weapons shipment and renewed Houthi maritime attacks have deepened global concerns over Red Sea security, threatening vital trade routes just weeks after open conflict between Israel and Iran. As tensions spike, U.S. officials warn of growing threats to freedom of navigation, commercial flow, and regional stability—while the standoff sharpens Washington's broader push to isolate Tehran and curb its network of proxy forces across the Middle East. Houthi supporters surround a giant Iranian flag during an anti-U.S. and anti-Israel weekly rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/ Houthi supporters surround a giant Iranian flag during an anti-U.S. and anti-Israel weekly rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/ Osamah Abdulrahman/AP Photo What To Know CENTCOM said on Wednesday that Yemen's National Resistance Forces (NRF), an anti-Houthi militia led by General Tareq Saleh, seized more than 750 tons of advanced Iranian weaponry intended for the Houthis. The shipment included anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, warheads, hundreds of drone engines, radar systems, air defense components, and encrypted communications gear. Manuals in Farsi and other markings indicated the weapons were produced by a company affiliated with Iran's Ministry of Defense. CENTCOM described the operation as the most significant interdiction of Iranian arms since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. On Friday, CENTCOM shared footage of what they said were Yemen's NRF intercepting a vessel smuggling Iranian weapons to the Houthis. Yemen's National Resistance Forces released new footage of the interception of a vessel smuggling Iranian weapons to the Houthis in the Red Sea. — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 17, 2025 Tehran Rejects Blame Tehran rejected the accusation. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei called the claim "baseless and part of a media campaign against Iran," accusing the U.S. of seeking to deflect attention from its own role in regional instability. He did not address the specifics of the intercepted shipment or provide alternative explanations for the weapons' origin. Iran has consistently denied arming the Houthis, despite repeated claims by U.S. and UN officials over the years linking Tehran to advanced weapons used by the rebel group. Houthi Attacks The seizure comes amid renewed Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. On July 6, the Magic Seas, a Greek owned bulk carrier owned, was hit by missiles and an explosive drone boat, forcing the crew to abandon ship. in the same week, the Eternity C, also Greek-owned, was attacked. Both vessels were severely damaged and sank. These are the deadliest maritime attacks since the Houthis resumed hostilities after a June 24 ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The group says the attacks show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and vows to keep disrupting Red Sea shipping until Israeli operations end in the war against Hamas since the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Screengrab shows Houthi Attack on Magic Seas vessel in the Red Sea July 6, 2025. Screengrab shows Houthi Attack on Magic Seas vessel in the Red Sea July 6, 2025. Ansar Allah Media office What People Are Saying Esmail Baqaei, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman: "Baseless and part of a media campaign against Iran." General Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander: "The interdiction of this massive Iranian shipment shows that Iran remains the most destabilizing actor in the region. Limiting the free flow of Iranian support to the Houthis is critical to regional security, stability, and freedom of navigation." What Happens Next The U.S. is expected to step up its coordination with Yemeni and European partners to halt future Iranian arms transfers and strengthen naval defenses amid growing fears of wider conflict in one of the world's busiest shipping corridors.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
750 tons of Iranian weapons bound for Houthis intercepted, CENTCOM says
U.S. Central Command said its Yemeni partners successfully intercepted a "massive Iranian weapons shipment" that was meant to reach the nation's Houthi rebels. The Yemeni National Resistance Forces seized more than 750 tons of munitions and hardware, including hundreds of advanced cruise, anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, warheads and seekers, CENTCOM said. The seizure also included hundreds of drone engines, radar systems and air defense and communication equipment, as well as manuals written in Farsi, CENTCOM said. CENTCOM said that the National Resistance Forces reported many of the systems were manufactured by a company affiliated with the Iranian Ministry of Defense. The company is under U.S. sanctions, CENTCOM said. This marked the largest seizure of Iranian advanced conventional weapons in the National Resistance Forces' history, CENTCOM said. "We commend the legitimate government forces of Yemen who continue to interdict the flow of Iranian munitions bound for the Houthis," said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of CENTCOM. "The interdiction of this massive Iranian shipment shows that Iran remains the most destabilizing actor in the region. Limiting the free flow of Iranian support to the Houthis is critic to regional security, stability, and freedom of navigation." Yemen's Houthi rebels spent months launching drone and rocket attacks targeting military and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The attacks targeted vital shipping lanes. The U.S. conducted several military strikes against the rebel group. In May, President Trump said the group had "capitulated" and that the U.S. would not carry out further strikes. The Houthis did not comment on the alleged agreement at the time. The Yemeni rebels attacked a Liberian-flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea on July 8. Three people were killed, two were wounded and several others were kidnapped. The Houthis also claimed they had attacked and sank another vessel on July 7. The incidents have raised concern that the Houthis may resume attacks in the area. Son of man who was violently detained by ICE reacts after release Mike Johnson breaks from Trump, calls on DOJ to release Epstein files Trump claims Epstein conspiracy theory is a hoax started by Democrats Solve the daily Crossword
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Anti-Houthi force seizes 'massive' Iranian weapons shipment: CENTCOM
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Wednesday in a post on X that a military group known as the Yemeni National Resistance Forces (NRF) had seized a "massive" shipment of Iranian weapons bound for the Houthi rebels. The NRF is an anti-Houthi force in Yemen, led by Tarek Saleh, the nephew of the former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. It is not officially part of the internationally recognized government. These Yemeni forces "seized more than 750 tons of munitions and equipment, including hundreds of advanced cruise, anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, warheads and guidance devices, components as well as hundreds of drone engines, air defense equipment, radar systems and communications equipment," the statement added. Since the start of the Israeli offensive on Gaza in October 2023, the Iran-backed Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea, saying they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Yemen Online
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yemen Online
YNR : Intercepted Massive Iranian Weapons Shipment Bound for Houthis from IRGC
Red Sea — Yemen's National Resistance Forces announced the successful interception of a large Iranian weapons shipment destined for the Houthi militia, marking one of the most significant seizures in the country's recent history. According to Brigadier General Tareq Mohammed Abdullah Saleh, commander of the National Resistance and member of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, the operation was carried out in the Red Sea following precise intelligence tracking. The seized cargo, totaling over 750 tons, included advanced missile systems, combat drones, radar and surveillance equipment, and communication devices. Details of the Seized Shipment - Cruise, anti-ship, and anti-aircraft missiles - Iranian Ghaem-118 air defense systems - Noor-Qadir naval cruise missiles, rebranded by Houthis as 'Mandeb-1' - Drone engines and signal interception devices - High-precision sniper rifles and recoilless rifles - Manuals written in Farsi, confirming Iranian origin Many of the weapons matched models previously showcased by the Houthis as 'locally manufactured,' debunking years of propaganda about a domestic arms industry. Strategic Implications General Saleh emphasized that the seizure dealt a major blow to Iran's Revolutionary Guard operations in Yemen, stating: 'This operation reaffirms our commitment to countering Iranian expansion and protecting Yemen's sovereignty. Long live the Republic of Yemen.' The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) praised the operation, calling it the largest interdiction of Iranian conventional weapons in Yemen's history. CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla noted: 'Iran remains the most destabilizing actor in the region. Halting its support to the Houthis is vital for regional security and freedom of navigation.' The seizure aligns with UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting arms transfers to the Houthis. It also underscores growing international concern over Iran's role in fueling conflict across the region.
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Trump Rejected Army's Iran Attack Plan, US Damaged Only 1 Of 3 Key Nuke Sites: Report
Last Updated: US President Donald Trump did not want to engage the US in a prolonged conflict in West Asia with Iran. US President Donald Trump personally rejected a sweeping military plan to expand US strikes on Iran, broadcaster NBC News said in a new report, citing current and former officials familiar with the deliberations. The proposal, drawn up by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), would have targeted three more nuclear sites and unfolded over several weeks. The report said that the plan stretched far beyond the limited strikes Trump eventually authorized last month. The report highlighted that the US President wanted to be consistent with his desire to avoid prolonged foreign entanglements for the US military and is said to have pushed back on the idea. Officials told the broadcaster that Trump was wary of dragging the US into a deeper conflict with Tehran and concerned about potential casualties on both sides. The CENTCOM plan, dubbed the 'All-In Plan" by some officials, had envisioned a sustained offensive, but the NBC News report said Trump's instinct was to opt for a shorter, more targeted action. The US strikes last month targeted three key nuclear enrichment sites in Iran — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. According to two serving officials, the attack on Fordow, considered a cornerstone of Iran's nuclear ambitions, was the most significant, with US intelligence assessing that it may have set back enrichment operations there by up to two years. Much of the Trump administration's public messaging after the strikes has zeroed in on Fordow. In a Pentagon briefing responding to early Defense Intelligence Agency assessments, which suggested Iran's nuclear program overall had been delayed by only three to six months, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine focused heavily on Fordow's impact, offering little comment on the strikes at Natanz and Isfahan. Before the strikes, US officials were aware that Iran had hardened facilities and stockpiles of enriched uranium at Natanz and Isfahan and some likely buried too deep even for the US military's 30,000-pound GBU-57 'bunker buster" bombs, the NBC News report said. These massive bombs, which had never been used in combat until the Iran operation, were specifically designed for deeply fortified sites like Fordow, built into the side of a mountain. However, by 2023, intelligence suggested that Iran was expanding tunnel networks at Natanz, possibly digging deeper than the GBU-57's reach. Isfahan, too, was believed to have underground tunnels. While the US deployed GBU-57s at Natanz, it opted for Tomahawk missile strikes on surface targets at Isfahan, avoiding the bunker busters there altogether. view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 20:08 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
