While the Houthis continue to attack commercial vessels, an Iranian warship approaches the Red Sea.
The Iranian warship, the Alborz, has entered the Red Sea at a time of ongoing attacks on commercial vessels by Houthi militants in Yemen.
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According to reports, Iran's Alborz warship has entered the Red Sea. Its appearance coincides with increased tensions along the vital trade route due to continuous attacks on vessels in retaliation for the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The ship had entered the Red Sea through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, according to a report published on Monday by Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, though it was not immediately apparent when.
Although Tasnim did not provide specifics about the Alborz's role, he did state that Iranian warships have been working in open waters since 2009 to protect commercial lanes, fight piracy, and perform other duties.
The Alvand class destroyer had been a part of the Iranian navy's 34th fleet, and patrolled the Gulf of Aden, the north of the Indian Ocean and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait as far back as 2015, according to Iran's Press TV.
The news comes as the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group – which was moved to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea following Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 invasion of Israel – is heading back to its home in Norfolk, Va.
The Ford was deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean so it could be within striking distance of Israel following the Oct. 7 attacks.
The carrier remained in the Mediterranean while its accompanying ships sailed into the Red Sea where Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have been targeting vessels since November to show their support for the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in its war with Israel.
In response, many major shipping companies have rerouted their vessels around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, adding exorbitant costs and delays.
Houthi militants attacked a Maersk container vessel with missiles and small boats on Saturday and Sunday, prompting the company to pause all sailing through the Red Sea for 48 hours.
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