U.S. deploys warships off Yemen coast to monitor ships in area

WASHINGTON, April 21 (KUNA) -- U.S. warships are being deployed off the coast of Yemen to monitor ships in the area that are suspected of trafficking arms to Houthi rebels, U.S. officials said on Monday evening.
The move is also meant to reassure allies in the region, the officials said.
"We are closely monitoring all maritime activity in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden," Commander Kevin Stephens of the Fifth Fleet said. He declined to discuss the number and types of vessels being monitored or the possible destination or cargo of the vessels.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and the guided missile destroyer USS Normandy were moved into the waters off the coast of Yemen on Sunday, the officials confirmed, bringing to nine the total number of U.S. naval ships operating in the area.(end) rm.tg