On Sunday, Iran issued a warning to the United States regarding potential targeting of two cargo ships in the Middle East, long suspected of serving as a forwarding operating base for Iranian commandos. This warning came shortly after the U.S. and the United Kingdom launched a massive airstrike campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The statement from Iran, concerning the Behshad and Saviz ships, seemed to indicate Tehran’s growing concern over recent U.S. strikes in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, targeting militias backed by Iran.
These attacks were in retaliation for the killing of three U.S. soldiers and the injuring of dozens in Jordan, events stemming from Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This situation has heightened tensions in the wider Middle East, raising fears of a regional conflict.
Iran Issues Warning About Alleged Surveillance Vessels in Middle East After U.S. Airstrikes in Yemen (Credits: The Denver Post)
The airstrikes in Yemen targeted Houthi-held provinces, including the capital, Sanaa. The U.S. claimed to have hit underground missile arsenals, launch sites, and helicopters used by the rebels. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree asserted that these attacks would not deter Yemeni forces and the nation from supporting Palestinians against the “Zionist occupation and crimes.”
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron warned the Houthis to end their attacks on international shipping and naval vessels, with the possibility of further consequences. President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, also indicated that the strikes might continue, emphasizing the readiness to respond to threats faced by American forces.
The Behshad and Saviz, registered as commercial cargo ships, are associated with a Tehran-based company sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury.
Suspected of serving as spy positions for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, these ships have been loitering in the Red Sea off Yemen for years. In a video statement, Iran’s regular army described them as “floating armories.” The Behshad, currently in Djibouti near a Chinese military base, is portrayed as aiding an Iranian mission against piracy.
The statement concludes with a warning, stating that engaging in terrorist activities against Behshad or similar vessels jeopardizes international maritime routes and security, assuming global responsibility for potential future risks. The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in the Middle East declined to comment on the threat.
The Saviz, now in the Indian Ocean where alleged Iranian drone attacks on shipping occurred, was previously attacked in 2021, likely by a limpet mine. This incident, part of a broader shadow war between Iran and Israel following the collapse of the Iran nuclear deal, forced Iran to bring the ship home.
