U.S., Yemen forces seize Iranian weapons

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SANAA, Yemen, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Yemeni and U.S. military forces intercepted a boat carrying explosives, weapons and money believed to have originated in Iran, U.S. officials said.

Unnamed U.S. officials briefed on the incident off the Yemeni coast, said Monday there were indications that Iran was smuggling weapons and explosives to insurgents in Yemen, The New York Times said.

A boarding party from the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Farragut accompanied Yemeni forces in the raid Jan. 23, the Times said.

Weapons were reportedly found in three cargo sections of the 130-foot boat. The weapons included air-to-surface missiles, C4 military-grade explosives, 122-mm shells, rocket-propelled grenades and bomb making equipment, a statement from the Yemeni government Monday said.

U.S. officials said the weapons were made in Iran and is an attempt by the Islamic Republic to reach out to rebels and other political figures in Yemen, the Times said.