Israel: Iran Has Turned Commercial Ships into 'Floating Terrorist Bases'

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Monday, May 22, of converting commercial ships into platforms for launching missiles, drones, and transporting commandos. He stated that Iran's goal is to expand its covert maritime influence beyond the Persian Gulf. According to Reuters, during the Herzliya Security Conference, the Israeli Defense Minister presented images of six Iranian ships that have apparently been repurposed, naming five of them, and referred to them as 'floating terror bases,' with one recently heading towards the Gulf of Aden. Mr. Gallant said, 'This is directly a continuation of the maritime terrorism policy that Iran has imposed on the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea.' He added that the Islamic Republic is 'trying to extend its activities to the Indian Ocean and then develop them to the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.' The Islamic Republic has not immediately responded to these statements. Over the past two years, Iran and Israel have accused each other of attacking their ships in the Persian Gulf. No group or country has claimed responsibility for those attacks so far. In late May, the U.S. special envoy for Yemen stated that Iran has continued to supply weapons and drugs to the Houthis, which exacerbates the conflict in Yemen, contrary to the agreement to resume diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu: 'I will not allow Iran to throw a 'rope of terror' around Israel.' Wendy Sherman emphasized 'America's strong support for Israel's security.' Axios reported on a joint military program between the U.S. and Israel to counter Iran. Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is prepared to fight Iran on multiple fronts if necessary.