article_snippet.sent: U.S. Navy warships, meanwhile, were patrolling off Yemen in search of suspicious shipping in the region, in particular any weapons shipments from Iran to the Houthi rebels they are supporting in Yemen, a U.S. defense official told CNN.
article_snippet.sent: U.S. Navy on Wednesday came across a Panamanian-registered cargo ship that had left an Iranian port, a U.S. defense official said.
article_snippet.sent: Based on the route of the ship from Iran to Yemen, U.S. Navy declared U.S. Navy a "vessel of interest" and requested permission from the captain to search U.S. Navy.
article_snippet.sent: the ship from Iran was found to be carrying cement and construction materials, a U.S. defense official said.
article_snippet.sent: the ship from Iran was sent on the ship from Iran way.
article_snippet.sent: The offshore area has been a route for weapons smuggling into Yemen, as well as Sudan and Gaza, so U.S. Navy U.S. Navy has maintained a regular surveillance presence there.
article_snippet.sent: a U.S. defense official said that increased fighting in the last several days in southern Yemen has resulted in other ships trying to dock to help civilians leave Yemen.
highlights_snippet.sent: U.S. warships are patrolling off Yemen in search of suspicious shipping, a U.S. defense official says .