US Navy cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) seized a cache of Iranian-made missiles and weapons on February 9, after intercepting a dhow in the US Central Command area of operations.
The weapons seized include 150 “Dehlavieh” anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), Iranian-manufactured copies of Russian Kornet ATGMs. Other weapons components seized aboard the dhow were of Iranian design and manufacture and included three Iranian surface-to-air missiles, Iranian thermal imaging weapon scopes, and Iranian components for unmanned aerial and surface vessels, as well as other munitions and advanced weapons parts.
As noted by the US Navy, many of these weapons systems are identical to the advanced weapons and weapon components seized by guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) in the Arabian Sea on Nov. 25, 2019. Those weapons were determined to be of Iranian origin and assessed to be destined for the Houthis in Yemen, which would be in violation of a UN Security Council Resolution that prohibits the direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of weapons to the Houthis.
The seized weapons are in US custody awaiting final disposition.
The navy further said that an assessment of the material would be an interagency and international effort. International partner nations and organizations have also been invited to inspect the cache.
More information about the intercept would be revealed as it becomes available, according to the navy.
