US: The Islamic Republic has extensive involvement in attacks on ships in the Red Sea

The White House states that Iran has extensive involvement in planning attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea, and the information it provides is vital for targeting ships by the Houthis in Yemen. Adrienne Watson, National Security Council spokesperson, said on Friday, December 22, "We know that the Islamic Republic has been heavily involved in planning attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. This aligns with the long-term material support of the Islamic Republic and encouragement of destabilizing actions by the Houthis in the region." She added, "This is an international challenge that requires collective action." Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor, had previously stated in a press conference that Washington believes, based on evidence and reasons, that these attacks, while carried out by the Houthis of Yemen, are made possible with full support from the Islamic Republic. The Wall Street Journal also reported on Friday, citing Western and regional security officials, that information is provided to the Houthis through the Islamic Republic, which is used for attacking ships. According to the Wall Street Journal, these officials say that information gathered by a reconnaissance vessel controlled by the Islamic Republic's militia in the Red Sea is transferred to the Houthis, and they have recently used this data to attack commercial ships passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Many of the ships moving through this strait turn off their tracking systems to avoid detection, but an Iranian vessel stationed in the Red Sea facilitates precise missile and drone attacks by the Houthis. Houthi drone and missile attacks supported by Iran have forced some major shipping companies to suspend passage through the Red Sea and replace it with a longer route around the waters of southern Africa. The Houthi rebels in Yemen claim that these attacks are in retaliation for Israel's attack on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, but the targeted ships have little to no connection to Israel. Hamas has killed at least 1,200 people in rocket attacks and incursions into southern Israeli cities and has taken 240 hostages, including children, women, and the elderly. In response, Israel has launched air, sea, and ground attacks on Gaza aimed at eradicating Hamas. The United States, the UK, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. Iran denies involvement in the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, while domestic media report that Mohammad Reza Naqdi, deputy coordinator of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said, "Yesterday, the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz became a nightmare for them, and today they are trapped in the Red Sea." The US and several countries have formed a coalition to protect free navigation in the region and passing ships, with more than 20 countries reportedly joining it, according to the Pentagon's announcement on Thursday. Some countries in this coalition have stated that operations to protect commercial ships will be part of existing maritime agreements. Lael Brainard, director of the National Economic Council, emphasized that President Biden's national security team is highly focused on the situation in the Red Sea due to its importance in global transportation. She added that the United States and its partners are closely monitoring the situation in the region. The UK shot down an attack drone in the skies over the Red Sea. Houthi missile attacks in the Red Sea have set a Liberian-flagged ship on fire. The US is seeking to provide more support for commercial ships in the Red Sea and has sanctioned a financial network supporting the Houthis in Yemen. The National Security Advisor stated that the Islamic Republic has enabled attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The Pentagon reported that a US warship and several commercial vessels were attacked in the Red Sea. US senators have passed a resolution emphasizing the necessity of countering the Islamic Republic and its proxy forces, with calls for the Houthis to be re-designated as a terrorist group.