Service & Sacrifice: Seizing & Striking
A snapshot of the burdens being shouldered by brave U.S. troops and military families around the world.
A U.S. Coast Guard cutter seizes weapons being shipped by Iran to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in the Arabian Sea on January 28, 2024.
Middle East
A large cache of weapons being shipped from Iran to Yemen was recently seized by the U.S. military.
On Thursday, U.S. Central Command announced that the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr. located and seized “over 200 packages that contained medium-range ballistic missile components, explosives, unmanned underwater/surface vehicle components, military-grade communication and network equipment, anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies, and other military components.”
The X post embedded below shows many of those weapons, which “originated in Iran” and were intercepted in the Arabian Sea on January 28 before reaching Houthi terrorists who have been attacking U.S. Navy and commercial ships from Yemen.
“This is yet another example of Iran’s malign activity in the region,” said U.S. Central Command commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla.
CENTCOM Intercepts Iranian Weapons Shipment Intended for Houthis
TAMPA, Fla. – A U.S. Coast Guard cutter, forward deployed to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, seized advanced conventional weapons and other lethal aid originating in Iran and bound to… pic.twitter.com/inkw4ihq1I
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 15, 2024
News of the weapons seizure comes as the U.S. military continues to pound Houthi targets in Yemen. On Wednesday, U.S. Central Command said the military took out “seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, three mobile unmanned aerial vehicles and one explosive unmanned surface vessel” in four separate strikes. The release said the weapons “were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea” and posed ” an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels.”
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin reports that the “U.S. military [is] now hitting Houthis BEFORE they launch missiles…part of changed strategy (the White House) signed off on after U.S. troops [were] killed in Jordan. Part of [a] larger campaign vs. Iran proxies.”
Griffin also noted that as of Thursday, there have been no attacks against U.S. troops stationed in Iraq or Syria since February 4. We pray that this trend continues and that all American military service members stationed in the Middle East make a swift and safe return to their families.
A homecoming in Savannah today for the late Sgt. Breonna Moffett, one of the three U.S. soldiers killed last month by a drone attack in Jordan. The Savannah native's remains were escorted by a police motorcade from the airport to a funeral home near Forsyth Park. pic.twitter.com/gxDDoc1y1r
— Benjamin Payne (@benjaminpayne) February 15, 2024
Also on Thursday, one of the three U.S. Army Reserve soldiers killed in a drone attack in Jordan returned to her hometown. Hundreds lined the streets of Savannah, Georgia, to solemnly welcome home Sgt. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, who was killed in action at the age of 23.
We will never forget this American hero or the two others she made the ultimate sacrifice alongside. May God bless their families, friends and fellow soldiers.
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Training
The five U.S. Marines killed in last week’s tragic helicopter training crash in California have been officially identified.
According to a U.S. military news release, the five fallen Marines were:
- Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, Olathe, Kansas
- Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, Chandler, Arizona
- Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, Emmett, Idaho
- Capt. Jack Casey, 26, Dover, New Hampshire
- Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, Traverse City, Michigan
May God comfort the Davis, Langen, Moulton, Casey and Nava families during this unimaginably difficult time. We will continue to pray for them.
All were members of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing’s Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, nicknamed the Flying Tigers. https://t.co/QNjqVRdgD1
— Marine Corps Times (@Marinetimes) February 9, 2024
Several Marines were injured while serving in Okinawa when a light tactical vehicle rolled over in a jungle during a mass casualty exercise on Thursday.
Thankfully, a larger tragedy was averted when the eight to ten Marines aboard escaped with non life-threatening injuries, according to Stars and Stripes.
“There will be an investigation on this afterwards,” said U.S. Marine Maj. Clay Groover, as quoted by Stars and Stripes. “Everyone seems to be okay at this point.”
Please join us in praying that all the injured Marines make full recoveries.
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Coming Home
The crew of the U.S. Navy submarine USS California returned to American shores on Valentine’s Day after a successful overseas deployment.
The U.S. Navy fast-attack submarine USS California pulls into Submarine Base New London in Connecticut after a deployment on February 14, 2024.
Welcome home, heroes! Thank you for helping keep our country safe.
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is the author of the forthcoming I Have Your Back, the recently released Be Bold and co-author of Three Wise Men, Brothers Forever, 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes. Follow Tom on X @TSileo and The Stream at @Streamdotorg.
