US Naval officials have filed a criminal complaint against four foreign nationals following the interception of a vessel in the Arabian Sea. The ship was suspected of transporting advanced Iranian-made weapons.
The four defendants had Pakistani identification cards and were involved in transporting missile components. These components were believed to be the type of weapons used by Houthi rebel forces in recent attacks.
“The flow of missiles and other advanced weaponry from Iran to Houthi rebel forces in Yemen threatens the people and interests of America and our partners in the region,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a news release.
According to court records, on the night of January 11, U.S. Central Command Navy forces were operating from the USS Lewis B. Puller. The Navy SEALS and U.S. Coast Guards were conducting a boarding operation on a small vessel, “dhow,” in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Somalia.
ALSO READ: U.S. Forces Kill Three Al-Shabab Terrorists in Southern Somalia Airstrike
During the operation, the U.S. boarding team encountered 14 individual mariners on board the ship. According to an FBI affidavit, Navy forces were justified in boarding the ship because they conducted an authorized “flag verification” to confirm the vessel’s registered country.
The U.S. boarding team allegedly discovered and seized Iranian-made advanced conventional weaponry. According to court records, the weaponry consisted of missile components and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM). It included a warhead, propulsion system, and guidance components.
Unfortunately, two Navy SEALs lost their lives during the operation. U.S. officials disclosed that Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers was boarding the boat.
POLL — Do You Support Stricter Gun Control Laws and Assault Weapon Bans?
Sadly, he fell into the gap created by high waves between the vessel and the SEALs’ combatant craft. In an attempt to rescue Chambers, Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram jumped in, as officials familiar with the incident reported.
“Two Navy SEALs tragically lost their lives in the operation that thwarted the defendants charged today from allegedly smuggling Iranian-made weapons that the Houthis could have used to target American forces and threaten freedom of navigation and a vital artery for commerce. Alongside our partners worldwide, the Justice Department will continue to deploy every available tool to combat this grave threat,” he added.
All the 14 sailors aboard were transferred to the USS Lewis B. Puller by Navy forces. Upon their return to Virginia, criminal charges were filed against four people, while witness warrants were issued for the remaining 10.
ALSO READ: Massachusetts Governor Hails Navy SEAL Who Died While Saving Fellow SEAL During Mission
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland vowed, saying that the Justice Department “will use every legal authority to hold accountable those who facilitate the flow of weapons from Iran to Houthi rebel forces, Hamas, and other groups that endanger the security of the United States and our allies.”
One of the four people, Muhammad Pahlawan, faces charges for allegedly attempting to smuggle advanced missile components, including a warhead. Prosecutors claimed he knew the Houthi rebels would use these components to target commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea and adjacent waters.
Additionally, Pahlawan was accused of providing false information to U.S. Coast Guard officers during the vessel’s boarding. Pahlawan’s co-defendants, Mohammad Mazhar, Ghufran Ullah, and Izhar Muhammad, are also facing charges of providing false information.
Pahlawan appeared for an initial hearing in the U.S. District Court on Thursday, and a detention hearing was scheduled for Tuesday. His attorney, Assistant Supervisory Federal Public Defender Amy Austin, has since refused to comment.
You Might Also Like:
Dinosaur Embryo Discovered Inside 72-Million-Year-Old Egg
Authorities Claim Oklahoma Nonbinary Student Didn’t Die From School Fight
Prosecutors Charge Two Adults With Murder in Connection to Chiefs Parade Shooting
NYC Police Solve Mystery of Human Leg Discovered on Subway Tracks
Target Sparks Yet Another Round of Criticism and Boycott Calls Over It’s “Woke” Collections
