Iranian reports indicate that Tehran has deployed a destroyer and a warship towards the Red Sea, positioning them near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This movement follows a naval clash involving American and Houthi forces off the coast of Hodeidah.
According to Mehr News Agency, an Iranian semi-official news outlet, in a tweet on its “X” site account, the Iranian destroyer “Alborz” is approaching the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the Red Sea. The sources added that the Bushehr military ship is accompanying the destroyer, positioning near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The destroyer Alborz is equipped with long-range sea-launched cruise missiles. This development comes in the wake of an American operation that resulted in the death of 10 Houthis and the destruction of three boats that had opened fire on a container ship and American helicopters west of Hodeidah.
The British Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, earlier today, Monday, stated in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, that Iran shares responsibility in preventing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. He expressed on the X social media platform, “I made it clear that Iran shares responsibility in preventing these attacks, due to its long-standing support of the Houthis,” adding that the attacks “threaten the lives of innocents and the global economy.
The recent international actions in the Red Sea following the Gaza war have been marked by rising tensions and significant disruptions to global shipping. The Houthi group, based in Yemen, has intensified its attacks on ships in the Red Sea, specifically targeting those related to Israel as retribution for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. These attacks have severely disrupted shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial waterway accounting for a significant portion of world trade. In response, the Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi has threatened to target U.S. battleships and interests in the region if the United States targets them.
As a result of these heightened tensions, major shipping and oil companies have temporarily suspended transit through this critical maritime route. The United States, along with more than 20 other nations, has formed a new coalition to safeguard ships navigating the Red Sea. This coalition involves collaborative patrols in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, aiming to respond to and assist commercial vessels transiting this vital international waterway. Countries like the UK, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, Australia, and the Seychelles have joined this effort.
Despite these measures, the Houthis have declared their intention to continue their attacks on Israel-bound commercial ships, arguing that the U.S.-led military coalition in the Red Sea is aimed at protecting Israel and militarizing the sea. The coalition’s efforts are seen as crucial in maintaining the economic wellbeing and prosperity of nations that rely on this key artery of global trade. However, the heightened military presence could potentially escalate active hostilities and exacerbate concerns about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict spilling over into the region.
