Senior U.S. Military Official: Islamic Republic Has 'Direct Role' in Houthi Attacks on Ships

The senior commander of the U.S. Navy in the Middle East stated on Monday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is 'very directly' involved in the Houthi militants' attacks on ships. Brad Cooper, commander of the Fifth Fleet, told the Associated Press in a phone interview that Iran-related attacks have gone beyond previous threats in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz and have expanded to waters across the Middle East. However, Cooper refrained from stating that the Iranian government leads the Houthis' attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on a case-by-case basis. He told the Associated Press, 'The actions of the Houthis are probably the most significant development in terms of attacking commercial vessels that we have seen in two generations.' Brad Cooper said, 'The reality is that they have attacked the international community, and as a result, this has brought about the international reaction that I think you have seen.' The Iranian mission to the United Nations and the Houthi leadership in Sanaa, Yemen's capital, did not respond to the Associated Press's request for comment on Cooper's remarks. The Iran-backed Houthis have carried out at least 34 attacks on ships in waterways leading to the Suez Canal in Egypt since November, and this waterway is a crucial route for the transfer of energy and cargo from Asia and the Middle East to Europe. In his interview with the Associated Press, the naval commander acknowledged the threat posed by Iran's proxy forces and that the distribution of its weapons has expanded from the Red Sea to far-off regions of the Indian Ocean. The U.S. holds the Iranian government responsible for recent drone attacks on ships. In the latest incident, a U.S.-owned cargo ship was attacked by the Houthis in the Gulf of Aden. Also see: Tensions in the Gulf of Aden; Houthis claim responsibility for the recent attack on a U.S. ship. Cooper stated regarding the Houthi attacks, 'Iran clearly funds [the Houthis]... and is providing training to them.' According to him, it is clear that the Islamic Republic is 'very directly' involved in the Houthi attacks and 'this is not something that is hidden.' Cooper described the attacks on ships in the Middle East as the worst since the so-called 'Tanker War' in the 1980s during the Iran-Iraq War. At that time, naval battles between Washington and Tehran peaked in one day, leading to the U.S. accidentally shooting down an Iranian passenger jet, killing 290 people on board. At that time, U.S. Navy ships were escorting re-flagged Kuwaiti tankers passing through the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. This decision was made after Iranian mines damaged ships in the region. Cooper stated that officials have no plans to re-flag ships and escort them to pass near Yemen. Cooper's reference to ongoing tensions indicates increasing concerns about the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the region. He spoke to the Associated Press on the sidelines of a drone conference in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Under his command of the Fifth Fleet, the U.S. Navy has established Task Force 59, which is a drone fleet to enhance U.S. patrols in regional waterways. Cooper stated that various drones today assist the U.S. Fifth Fleet in covering approximately 26,000 square kilometers of Middle Eastern waters, which otherwise the Navy would not have monitored. Task Force 59 aids the Fifth Fleet's efforts to seize suspicious shipments of drugs and weapons. U.S. forces this month seized missile parts and other Iranian-made weapons from a ship heading to the Houthis. This operation, however, resulted in the disappearance of two U.S. Navy personnel in the wave-filled waters. The U.S. Central Command stated on Sunday that it now believes the two personnel are dead. While Cooper did not directly state whether his fleet's drones played a role in the seizure of that vessel, he alluded to it, saying these drones are specifically designed for deterrent operations. He emphasized the necessity of making a 'special decision' to stop Houthi attacks on international commercial vessels as his command is set to end in February. Reuters: The Islamic Republic and Hezbollah in Lebanon assist the Houthis' attacks in the Red Sea. CENTCOM has ended the 'search and rescue' operations for the missing American sailors. The White House confirmed; the U.S. has targeted Houthi positions three times on Friday. The Houthis promised maritime security in the Red Sea to Russia and China.