In this photo made available Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, a team from the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham inspects a dhow while conducting maritime security operations. A U.S. military video released early Friday, Aug. 31, purported to show small ships in the Gulf of Aden smuggling weapons amid the ongoing war in Yemen, with officials saying they seized over 1,000 arms from the vessels. (U.S. Navy via AP)

US Navy says over 2,500 assault rifles found in Gulf seizure

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The U.S. Navy says a recent arms seizure from small ships near war-torn Yemen netted over 2,500 Kalashnikov assault rifles.

The Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet gave the updated total in a statement Wednesday. It boarded the skiff and the dhow, a traditional ship in the Persian Gulf, during a routine check in the Gulf of Aden on Aug. 28.

The Navy added: “The origin and intended destination of the skiff have not yet been determined.”

In early 2016, U.S.-allied warships in the region stopped three dhows carrying thousands of Kalashnikov assault rifles as well as sniper rifles, machine-guns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, anti-tank missiles and other weapons believed bound for Yemen from Iran.

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Abbey Westbury

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