Iran has issued a warning to Washington regarding the potential targeting of two cargo ships in the Middle East. These ships have long been suspected of serving as forwarding operating bases for Iranian commandos.
Tehran's recent statement regarding the Behshad and Saviz ships seems to indicate a growing sense of unease over the US strikes in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. These strikes have been targeting militias supported by the Islamic Republic.
The strikes were carried out as a response to the tragic loss of three US soldiers and the injuries sustained by many others in Jordan.
These attacks can be traced back to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Overnight Sunday, the US conducted strikes in six provinces of Yemen that are under the control of the Houthi rebels, including the capital city of Sanaa.
No assessment of the damage was made by the Houthis, however, the US provided a description of targeting underground missile arsenals, launch sites, and rebel helicopters.In response to recent attacks, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a military spokesperson for the Houthi forces, expressed unwavering support for the Palestinians.
He emphasized that these attacks will not deter the Yemeni forces and the nation from standing in solidarity against the Zionist occupation and its crimes.
Following the strikes, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a stern warning to the Houthis, emphasizing that there will be severe repercussions if they persist in their unlawful assaults on international shipping and naval vessels.
Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security adviser, also cautioned that the strikes could potentially persist. In an interview with CBS's Face the Nation, Sullivan expressed confidence in our ability to handle any challenges posed by other groups or nations.
The attack at the Tower 22 base in Jordan on Jan. 28 has been attributed to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias, according to US officials. Iran has attempted to disassociate itself from the drone strike, asserting that the militias operate autonomously without its direct influence.
According to AP News, Sullivan emphasized that Biden is not seeking to escalate the conflict in the volatile region, when asked about the possibility of strikes inside Iran. However, when questioned about the potential for a direct escalation from the Iranians, he emphasized that any such action would be met with a swift and forceful response from the United States.
While vowing to take decisive action against any future attacks on Americans, Sullivan emphasized that it would not be an indefinite military campaign.The US launched a series of strikes on multiple sites in Iraq and Syria, targeting over 85 locations across seven areas.
Various targets were struck, such as command and control headquarters, intelligence centers, rockets and missiles, drone and ammunition storage sites, and other facilities that had connections to the militias or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force. The Quds Force is responsible for Tehran's relationship with and arming of regional militias.
US Refuses to Confront Iran Leaders
The Biden administration has thus far refrained from directly confronting Iran or its senior Quds Force leaders within its borders. According to Sullivan, the US military currently has no confirmation of any civilian casualties resulting from those strikes.
Certain militias have posed a continuous threat to US bases over an extended period of time. However, these groups have escalated their attacks following Israel's conflict with Hamas, which resulted in a significant loss of life and the taking of hostages. The offensive against Hamas in Gaza has resulted in a devastating loss of life, with over 27,000 people tragically losing their lives, according to the territory's Health Ministry.
There has been a consistent pattern of missile or drone attacks by the Houthis on both commercial and military ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Despite the establishment of an international force to safeguard vessels in this crucial waterway, the Houthis have shown no signs of reducing their campaign.
Overnight Sunday, airstrikes were conducted in six provinces of Yemen that are under the control of the Houthi rebels. The capital city of Sanaa was also targeted. No assessment of the damage was provided by the Houthis, however, the US reported targeting underground missile arsenals, launch sites, and rebel helicopters.
Meanwhile, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree expressed unwavering support for Palestinians, emphasizing that these attacks will not deter Yemeni forces and the nation from standing against the Zionist occupation and its crimes. The perpetrators' airstrikes will not be left unanswered.
