Commander of the IRGC Threatens Despite Calls to Halt Destabilizing Actions: We Will Attack the Enemy 'From Afar and Near'

The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, warned those he referred to as 'the enemy' on Saturday, January 6, that 'we will attack them from afar and near,' and they must distance themselves from the region. Salami stated, 'With this strategy, we have been able to show the enemy that stagnation within close or semi-distant ranges is harmful to them, and they must stay away from this area.' Earlier on January 1, the Tasnim news agency, close to the IRGC, reported the entry of the 'Alborz Destroyer' of the Islamic Republic of Iran's army into the waters of the Red Sea via the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. This threat from the IRGC commander comes amid growing concerns about the escalation of war in the Middle East amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, with many countries calling for a halt to attacks by Iran-backed groups in the region. The French Foreign Minister noted in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart that the risk of a regional war in the Middle East has never been greater, and Tehran and its proxy groups must end their destabilizing activities. Salami did not specify any country as 'the enemy,' but 22 countries have agreed to participate in a U.S.-led coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea against attacks by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain, stated that the Houthis have conducted 25 attacks against commercial vessels passing through the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Many major shipping companies have been forced to take a longer and more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope instead of passing through the Suez Canal, which accounts for about 12% of global trade. Earlier this week, the U.S. and eleven other countries issued a joint statement once again calling for an end to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, emphasizing that these attacks are illegal and threaten regional stability, freedom of navigation, and global food supply chains. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for an immediate end to the 'illegal' Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the release of detained ships and crews in a phone conversation with his French counterpart. The British Defense Minister warned in an article in the Telegraph that London is considering airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen and will not hesitate to take 'direct action' to stop their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Telegraph reported that Britain is designing plans with the U.S. for potential military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen to counter their attacks on shipping lines in the Red Sea, which have disrupted global trade. The British Defense Minister, referring to the operation of the Royal Navy's 'HMS Diamond' in late December that destroyed a Houthi drone in the Red Sea, stated, 'We are determined to take direct action and will not hesitate for further actions to prevent threats to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.' These warnings from the British official came after the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that it had sunk several Houthi boats involved in the attack on the commercial vessel 'Maersk-Hangzhou' and killed at least ten Houthis who intended to board the ship. The world's largest container shipping giant warned its customers about a potential 'major disruption.' The Houthis attacked another cargo ship; CENTCOM reported no damages. The U.S. sanctioned one individual and three entities facilitating financial aid from the Islamic Republic to the Houthis. Blinken is discussing increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza and preventing the escalation of tensions in the region. Britain shot down an attacking drone in the skies over the Red Sea. A Houthi missile attack in the Red Sea set a Liberian-flagged ship on fire. Verification: Does the U.S. have the right to defend itself and others against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea? The U.S. is seeking to provide more support for commercial vessels in the Red Sea.