Washington: US naval forces in the Arabian Sea seized a shipment of weapons that the United States believes was sent from Iran and was bound for Huthi rebels in Yemen, the Navy said.


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The patrol ship USS Sirocco intercepted and seized the shipment hidden aboard a small dhow on March 28.


The illicit cargo included 1,500 AK-47s, 200 RPG launchers and 21.50 caliber machine guns, the Navy said in a statement.


The dhow and its crew were allowed to sail on after the weapons were seized.


The Navy said it was the latest in a series of illicit weapons shipments which the United States believes originated in Iran.


Pro-government Yemeni forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, have been battling the Iran-backed Shi`ite Huthi rebels for more than a year.


The warring parties are preparing for a UN-brokered ceasefire due to take effect on April 10 and intended to pave the way for peace talks in Kuwait a week later.