Iran is facing an “all-out battle” with an “enemy” actor, a top Iranian commander said, as Western nations vow to tackle the recent slew of attacks from Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, made the statement while speaking at a ceremony unveiling a new navy ship in the coastal Gulf city of Bandar Abbas. He emphasized the need to defend national interests and warned the enemy to stay away from the area.
The Iranian Navy dispatched a military destroyer to the Red Sea on January 2, amid soaring tensions in the waterway. While Iran did not officially provide a reason for the deployment, state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency said the destroyer was dispatched as part of regular missions in international waters.
This follows a report from the UK-based maritime security group, Ambrey Analytics, of a “maritime security event in the Bab al Mandab area” in the Red Sea. Crews were advised to minimize deck movements as the situation unfolded.
The Houthi rebels, considered to be one of Iran’s proxies, have launched several attacks against commercial and merchant vessels in the Red Sea. The group has called it a revenge campaign against Israel’s war in Gaza.
A coalition of 11 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, condemned the “illegal” and “profoundly destabilizing” attacks in a joint statement. They outlined their serious intention to “hold malign actors accountable” for “unlawful seizures and attacks.”
UK’s finance minister, Jeremy Hunt, acknowledged that the attacks “may have an impact” on prices in the country and warned the rebel group that there will be consequences for their actions in the Red Sea.
Tensions are high as Iran faces pressure from Western nations to control the actions of its proxies and prevent further destabilization of the region. The situation in the Red Sea is closely monitored as global trade could be significantly impacted.