U.S. Navy intercepts 'massive' shipment of explosive material in Gulf of Oman

2022-11-15

photo taken on November 9, 2022 and made provided by U.S. Navy on November 15, 2022. Kevin Frus/U.S. Navy Forces Central Command/Handout via REUTERS

The U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet said on Tuesday it had intercepted a fishing vessel smuggling "massive" amounts of explosive material while transiting from Iran along a route in the Gulf of Oman that has been used to traffic weapons to Yemen's Houthi group.

U.S. forces found over 70 tonnes of ammonium perchlorate which is commonly used to make rocket and missile fuel as well as explosives, the Fifth Fleet said in a statement.

A Saudi-led military coalition battling the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen since 2015 has repeatedly accused Iran of supplying the group with weapons, a charge Tehran denies.

"This was a massive amount of explosive material, enough to fuel more than a dozen medium-range ballistic missiles depending on the size," said Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander There was no immediate Iranian comment on the accusation.

The intercepted vessel had four Yemeni crew members and also carried 100 tonnes of urea fertilizer, which is used in agriculture but also for making explosives, the Fifth Fleet said.

of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces.

source:www.reuters.com/world/us-navy-intercepts-massive-shipment-explosive-material-gulf-oman-2022-11-15/