Story highlights "Several hundred" AK-47s found on a ship in the northern Indian Ocean

The French discovery marks second such weapons seizure in region in a month

U.S. believes weapons may have originated in Iran and were headed to Yemen via Somalia

(CNN) The French seized a large weapons cache on a ship headed for Somalia on March 20, authorities said.

It's the second large weapons seizure in the region this month, and both may have been headed to Yemen from Iran.

According to a U.S. assessment, the arms recently seized originated in Iran, and their likely destination was Yemen , Cmdr. Kevin Stephens, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, told CNN.

French authorities released the crew of 10 after questioning them, according to the French Defense Ministry.

Iran has been accused of arming Houthis -- fellow Shiite Muslims fighting against the government in Yemen's civil war. Stephens would not specify whether or not the United States believed the weapons shipment was headed to Houthi rebels.

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