The United States has accused two Iranians and a Pakistani of smuggling weapons used in attacks by the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization, against commercial ships, according to US media reports on Saturday, August 10, 2024.

The maritime news website, "TradeWinds," reported that the US Department of Justice has indicted two Iranians and a Pakistani on charges related to the smuggling of weapons used in Houthi attacks on ships.

The charges stem from a dramatic US raid on a dhow (a traditional Arabian sailing vessel) in January, which resulted in the deaths of two US Navy SEALs.

A grand jury indicted Iranian brothers Shahab Mirkazi and Younes Mirkazi, along with Muhammad Bahlawan from Pakistan. All three were charged with "providing material support to Iran's weapons of mass destruction program that results in death" and conspiracy to do so.

The charges also include "conspiracy to commit acts of violence against maritime navigation and transportation involving weapons of mass destruction" resulting in death.

Bahlawan, the alleged captain of the smuggling vessel, was also charged with making false statements to US Coast Guard officers and witness tampering.

According to the US website, Bahlawan was arrested during the raid on the dhow, while the Mirkazi brothers remain at large.

The new indictment replaces previous charges filed against Bahlawan and three other crew members of the dhow in February. The four pleaded not guilty to those charges, as court records show.

Court documents accuse the Mirkazi brothers of working for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the US accuses of supporting the Houthis.

Shahab Mirkazi is the owner of the dhow, named Younes – seemingly after his brother – which was used in the smuggling operation.

US authorities allege that Bahlawan worked for the brothers and was the captain of the dhow, a type of small vessel used in regional trade in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

On January 11, US forces operating from the USS Lewis B. Puller boarded the Younes while it was off the coast of Somalia in the Arabian Sea.

Pentagon officials told the New York Times that one member of the US Navy Special Operations force fell into rough seas during the operation, and another jumped in to rescue his fallen comrade. Both disappeared and are presumed dead.

The newspaper explained that "during the interdiction, the boarding team found 14 sailors aboard the dhow, including Bahlawan. They also seized what is believed to be Iranian weapons."

The US Department of Justice said, "Preliminary analysis of the advanced conventional weapons indicates they include critical components for medium-range ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles, including warheads, propulsion components, and guidance systems."

"The type of weapons allegedly found aboard the dhow is consistent with the weapons used by the Houthi rebel forces in recent attacks on commercial ships and US military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden."

Bahlawan, whose lawyer was not immediately available for comment, is accused of threatening one of the dhow's crew members. If convicted, the three men face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The case is being pursued by Assistant US Attorneys for the Eastern District of Virginia, Troy Edwards and Gavin Tisdale, along with the Department of Justice's National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section attorney, Leslie Woods.

Since November 2023, the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, has been carrying out missile and drone attacks against commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Aden. These attacks have led to increased maritime insurance costs and forced many international shipping companies to choose the much longer route around the southern tip of Africa.

To deter the Houthis, the US-led "Operation Sentinel" coalition, which includes Britain as a major participant, began airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen in January 2024. The Houthis have expanded their operations to target vessels linked to Washington and London.