Maneuvers after US deployment
Iranian warship enters the Red Sea
January 1, 2024, 7:07 p.m
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For several weeks now, Yemeni Houthi rebels have been attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea, seemingly at random. On Saturday, the US Navy sank several Houthi boats in another attack attempt. The next day, Iran sent a warship to the region.
An Iranian warship has entered the Red Sea amid tensions over attacks on merchant ships by pro-Iran Houthi rebels. As the Iranian news agency Tasnim reports, the “Alborz” crossed the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The report did not give reasons for the passage, but said Iranian military ships have been active in the region since 2009 to “secure shipping routes” and deter pirate attacks.
The Red Sea is a central trade route through which up to twelve percent of world trade passes. For several weeks now, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who, like Hamas, are supported by Iran, have been attacking commercial ships seemingly indiscriminately in order to harm Israel. Because of the wave of attacks, several shipping companies are now avoiding sailing through the strait near Yemen, which is leading to delays and increased freight costs due to the long detours.
In order to protect the ships, the USA founded an international military coalition to secure shipping in the Red Sea a few days before Christmas. On Saturday, the US Navy sank several Houthi rebel boats that were attempting to attack a container ship. According to information from port circles in Hodeida, Yemen, at least ten Houthi rebels were killed.
“Axis of Resistance”
The Houthis see themselves as part of the self-proclaimed “Axis of Resistance” directed against Israel. In addition to the radical Islamic Hamas in the Gaza Strip, this also includes the Shiite Islamist Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. The Houthis and Hezbollah are allied with Iran.
On Sunday, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron spoke to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian about tensions in the Red Sea and said he referred to Tehran’s responsibility for preventing Houthi attacks. Cameron explained in online networks that he mentioned Tehran’s “long-standing support” for the Houthis. Iran has always stated that the Houthis acted independently.
The “Alborz” fended off a pirate attack on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Aden in 2021. In 2015, she was one of two Iranian warships officially deployed to the region to secure trade routes – which was seen at the time as a sign of strained relations with Saudi Arabia.