U.S Charges 4 Men Linked To Intercepted Vessel Transporting Iranian Weapons

Four individuals were reportedly charged in association with a vessel that had been intercepted by the U.S. Navy in January 2024 while transporting Iran-made weapons on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department informed.

Two U.S. Navy SEALs were observed missing after boarding the unflagged vessel in a mission close to Somalia’s coast. They were declared dead after ten days following an exhaustive search.

Two Navy SEALs lost their lives tragically in the mission that thwarted defendants charged today from smuggling Iran-made weapons that Houthis could have made use of to target the American forces and also threaten the freedom of navigation and a vital artery for commerce, said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in announcing charges.

In retaliation for the Houthis’ attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea, the United States conducted a series of strikes on the group in Yemen. Per the Justice Department, Muhammad Pahlawan, the captain of the boat, has been charged with lying to federal agents who had boarded the ship and transferring explosives by ship that he knew would bring about harm/death.

The federal agents accused Mohammad Mazhar, Ghufran Ullah, and Izhar Muhammad of lying. Per the prosecutors’ criminal complaint, the four carried identification bearing Pakistani nationality.

Following the raid, a closer inspection of the boat revealed what are thought to be Iran-made powerful weapons, such as anti-ship cruise missiles and medium-range ballistic missile components.

Reference: The Print

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Source: Maritime Shipping News