Senior IRGC Official's Threat: Israeli-Flagged Ships Will 'Definitely' Be Targeted

As the Islamic Republic has recently made significant efforts to deny any involvement in Hamas's attacks on Israel, attacks on ships in the Middle East, and assaults on American and Western forces and facilities in the region, a senior IRGC official on Thursday, December 7, acknowledged Iran's military support for the Houthis and Hamas, threatening that Israeli-flagged ships would 'definitely be hit.' According to the Student News Agency, Ali Fadavi, the deputy commander of the IRGC, speaking at Jundi Shapur University in Ahvaz on Student Day, referred to recent attacks by the Yemeni Houthis on several commercial ships in the Red Sea, citing the Supreme Leader's order for 'support' in the fight against what he called 'oppression and oppressors.' He implicitly acknowledged Iran's military support for its proxy groups, stating that Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force, 'turned the hand of resistance from stone to missile.' He emphasized that this was 'practically done,' adding, 'Nine years ago, the Houthis had Kalashnikovs. Now they have missiles with a range of two thousand kilometers.' He noted that this proxy group in Yemen achieved access to these weapons in 'a very short time.' Regarding the movement of ships in the region, he stated, 'Now no ship dares to openly navigate under the Israeli flag in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, because it will definitely be hit.' These remarks from the senior IRGC official came at a time when the U.S. has identified the Yemeni Houthis, one of Iran's proxy groups in the region, as responsible for a series of attacks in the Red Sea since the start of the conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group in Gaza. Additionally, on December 5, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on its Persian account on X (formerly Twitter) regarding four attacks on these three commercial ships, stating, 'We believe, based on many reasons, that these attacks, while carried out by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully activated by the Iranian regime.' CENTCOM indicated, 'The United States will consider all appropriate responses in full coordination with its allies and international partners.' The U.K. also condemned the recent attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, accusing the Islamic Republic of being responsible for supporting the Houthis in these attacks. The Islamic Republic has repeatedly been accused of providing military and financial support to its proxy groups in the Middle East, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, groups like Kata'ib Hezbollah in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen, as well as sending military forces, including the Fatemiyoun Brigade, to Syria to support Bashar al-Assad's regime. However, the Islamic Republic has denied this and has claimed that its forces in Syria and Iraq have been advisors. This claim has been repeatedly rejected by several countries in the region and globally. Michael McCaul: The Houthis are a serious threat to international security and global trade. The Islamic Republic denies evidence: We were not involved in attacks against American forces. CENTCOM announced the arrival of the Eisenhower strike group in the Persian Gulf; purpose: to ensure the security of free navigation. Attacks on ships in the Red Sea have increased the war risk insurance rate. The White House National Security Advisor: The Islamic Republic has enabled attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The U.K.: The Islamic Republic is responsible for the Houthis' attacks on commercial ships.