- Iran warns US about potential targeting of cargo ships Behshad and Saviz suspected of being Iranian commando bases in the Middle East.
- Recent US and UK airstrikes in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria linked to tensions in the wider Middle East and retaliation for US soldiers killed in Jordan.
- US Defense Secretary and British Foreign Secretary send warnings to Houthi rebels to end attacks on international shipping and naval vessels.
Additional Coverage:
- After new US strikes hitting Yemen, Iran issues a warning about suspected spy ships in the Mideast (newsbreak.com)
Iran has issued a warning to the U.S. regarding the potential targeting of two cargo ships in the Middle East. The ships, Behshad and Saviz, are long suspected of serving as a forward operating base for Iranian commandos. The warning comes after the U.S. and the U.K. launched a large airstrike campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Iran’s statement suggests growing unease over the U.S. strikes in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen targeting militias backed by Iran.
The recent attacks in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria are a retaliation for the killing of three U.S. soldiers and the injuring of many others in Jordan. These attacks are linked to Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has heightened tensions in the wider Middle East and raised concerns about a potential regional conflict.
The airstrikes in Yemen struck six provinces controlled by the Houthi rebels, including the capital, Sanaa. The U.S. targeted underground missile arsenals, launch sites, and helicopters used by the rebels. The Houthis vowed to continue supporting Palestinians in the face of Israeli occupation and crimes, stating that the airstrikes will not go unanswered.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned the Houthis that they will face further consequences if they do not end their attacks on international shipping and naval vessels. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron echoed this message, stating that the Houthi attacks must stop.
The Behshad and Saviz are registered as commercial cargo ships but are suspected of serving as spy positions for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. In 2017, Saudi Arabia described the Saviz as a maritime base and weapons transshipment point for the Guard. The vessels have loitered off the coast of Yemen for years. The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned the Tehran-based company that owns the ships as a front for the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.
In a video statement by Iran’s regular army, the narrator describes the Behshad as aiding an Iranian mission to counteract piracy in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. However, Iran is not publicly known to have participated in campaigns against Somali piracy in the region. The Behshad recently traveled to the Gulf of Aden and is currently docked in Djibouti near a Chinese military base.
The statement concludes with a warning that those engaging in terrorist activities against the Behshad or similar vessels jeopardize international maritime routes and security. The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, based in the Middle East, has not yet responded to the threat.
The Saviz, which is now in the Indian Ocean near the location of alleged Iranian drone attacks on shipping, has been targeted before. In 2021, a suspected limpet mine explosion damaged the ship’s hull, leading Iran to bring the vessel back home. This incident is part of an ongoing covert conflict between Iran and Israel following the collapse of the Iran nuclear deal.