As tensions continue to mount in reaction to Iran’s nuclear program and the arming of Houthi rebels in Yemen by Tehran, the U.S. Navy stated that any people who reach out to voluntarily leak intel to Navy sailors to be used for counterterrorism operations and illicit shipments in the Middle East could end up getting up to $100,000 in reward payouts from the new program.
The U.S. Naval Forces Central Command has stated that any people who hand over information and nonlethal aid that allows officials to confiscate illicit cargo such as narcotics or illegal weapons could receive either money or other rewards such as food, boats, or other vehicles.
“Any destabilizing activity has our attention,” stated a spokesperson for the U.S. Navy’s Mideast-based 5th Fleet, Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins, to the Associated Press. “Definitely we have seen in the last year skyrocketing success in seizing both illegal narcotics and illicit weapons. This represents another step in our effort to enhance regional maritime security.”
Houthi rebels have been threatening the allies of the 5th Fleet in the area of the Red Sea but have not made any direct attacks against the Navy in the time since. However, the 5th Fleet has stated that its allies have managed to seize over $500 million in drugs and over 9,000 weapons just last year, stated another report from the Associated Press.
This new rewards program only extends its offers to non-U.S. citizens. Any military officials getting information from people outside the country would have to be processed through a vetting program in order to verify the fidelity of their information.
Naval forces are looking for information about “nefarious means of raising money to finance terrorism, including illegal smuggling of materials being utilized to finance individuals or groups, unmanned aerial vehicles, recovered UAS devices or parts, weapon caches, explosives or chemical weapons,” stated the report.
Additionally, military officials seek out people or organizations that are currently planning to carry out international terrorist acts targeting the U.S.
Hawkins stated that the Navy would be taking tips via a created hotline that will have operators on hand fluent in Arabic, English, and Farsi, while also making use of online submissions in Dari and Pashto, the primary languages across Afghanistan.
The Associated Press has reported that the program is slated to kick off Tuesday via the Department of Defense, which made use of a similar program in Afghanistan, Iraq, and a few other areas in the wake of the al-Qaida attacks that took place on September 11, 2001.
One Houthi Official, Ali al-Qahom, stated via social media last week that the increased activity from the U.S. in the area of the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea waters has the rebel group watching the area.
“Because of this, defense and confrontation options are open,” he claimed, as reported by the AP. “They and their diabolical projects have no place” throughout the region.