Four men have been indicted in connection with a vessel intercepted by the U.S. Navy, as announced by the U.S. Justice Department on Thursday. This development follows an operation on January 11th near the coast of Somalia, during which two U.S. Navy SEALs went missing after boarding the unflagged vessel.
Unfortunately, they were declared deceased ten days later after extensive search efforts.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco highlighted the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that the operation prevented the defendants from potentially supplying Iranian-made weapons to the Houthis. These weapons could have posed a significant threat to American forces and disrupted freedom of navigation and global commerce.
In response to Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, the U.S. has undertaken a series of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. These attacks have aimed to counter the disruption of global trade and mitigate concerns regarding supply bottlenecks.
According to the Justice Department, the boat’s captain, Muhammad Pahlawan, faces charges related to transporting explosives by ship, knowing their potential to cause harm, as well as lying to federal agents who boarded the vessel.
Additionally, Mohammad Mazhar, Ghufran Ullah, and Izhar Muhammad have been charged with providing false information to federal agents. Notably, all four individuals were found carrying Pakistani identification.
During a search of the boat following the raid, Iranian-made advanced weaponry was discovered, including components for medium-range ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles.
The indictment underscores the seriousness with which the U.S. government addresses threats posed by illicit arms smuggling and the efforts to safeguard maritime security in the region.
