The US Coast Guard seized a big cache of weapons bound for Houthi rebels, including ballistic missile components and explosives

• The US Coast Guard said it seized over 200 packages of weapons meant for Houthi rebels in Yemen.
• Ballistic missile components originating from Iran were found on a vessel in the Arabian Sea.

Over 200 packages of illegal weapons and military components bound for Yemen have been seized by the US Coast Guard, the US Central Command said in a statement on Thursday.

The shipment was seized from a vessel in the Arabian Sea on January 28, per the statement. The US Central Command said the weapons had originated in Iran and were en-route to be delivered to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

A vast assortment of weapons were found on the vessel, ranging from medium-range ballistic missile components, explosives, and anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies.

"This is yet another example of Iran's malign activity in the region, " Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, said in the statement.

"Their continued supply of advanced conventional weapons to the Houthis is in direct violation of international law and continues to undermine the safety of international shipping and the free flow of commerce," he added.

The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have been attacking shipping vessels in the Red Sea since mid-November. The rebels said that their attacks were a response to the Israel-Hamas war.

The attacks have prompted the US to form an international naval coalition to protect ships transiting through the vital shipping lane.

Besides shooting down missiles and drones fired by the Houthis, the US has also been intercepting attempts by Iran to smuggle weapons into Yemen.

In January, two Navy SEALs were declared dead after they went missing during an operation off the coast of Somalia. The pair were helping to seize Iranian warheads bound for Yemen when they disappeared.