Tehran deploys warships to Red Sea as tension escalates in Yemen
By
Behnam Ben Taleblu & Patrick Megahan | October 14, 2016 |
[email protected] |
Iran’s conventional Navy, known by its Persian acronym NEDAJA,
reportedly deployed two vessels to international waters surrounding Yemen yesterday. First reported in the semi-official Iranian press, the story has also been noted in the Western press, where it was
framed as part of the larger Saudi-Iranian rivalry, and the ongoing war in Yemen.
The official Iranian motivation behind the deployment of the 44th Naval Flotilla – which
consists of one frigate (the
Alvand) and one logistics/support vessel (the
Bushehr) – is to deter piracy and defend trade. However, this deployment to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which is a strategic chokepoint where
over 3 million barrels of oil pass per day, comes amid an intensification of the war in Yemen. Most recently, the US has taken to responding to attacks on its military vessels in the region. Yesterday, the US responded with Tomahawk missile strikes against three coastal radar systems in Houthi-controlled territory. It remains unclear if these strikes will sufficiently deter future attacks. Some defense analysts have even
alluded to the radar sites being previously rendered un-operational.
The attack followed two separate occasions where anti-ship missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled territory at vessels linked to the coalition. On Oct. 1, Houthi rebels
fired an anti-ship missile (likely a
C-801 or
C-802) at a United Arab Emirates logistics vessel on the Red Sea. That was followed by a
thwarted missile attack on an American vessel in the Red Sea on Oct. 9.
Iran has deployed naval flotillas from its conventional naval warfare fleet numerous times in the past. Often, these are trips to showcase a new vessel, or to
dock in welcoming ports as a symbol of friendship. This flotilla deployment, however, appears to be aimed at sending a signal to the U.S. as well as the Saudi-led military coalition about Iranian resolve. In the past, Iran has
promised retaliation and even “war” should its humanitarian vessels in Yemen be targeted. In fact, the
Alvand is no stranger to confrontations with the US Navy,
aiming its guns at an American
MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and coalition auxiliary ship operating in the same waters in July 2015. It remains to be seen if they will make the same threat here.
A Growing Pattern of Maritime Misbehavior
This deployment by Iran appears to be more posturing than an attempt to actually clash with the US Navy. The 40-year-old
Alvand, armed with C-802 missiles but lacking modern radars and defensive systems, would have little chance of surviving a skirmish against the larger and more advanced
American destroyers (
USS Mason and
USS Nitze). As the
Mason proved earlier this week, US countermeasures can easily thwart attacks from missiles similar to the
Alvand’s and the appearance of Iranian vessels is unlikely to provoke a significant reaction from the US.
If a confrontation were to occur it would be a continuation of Tehran’s growing pattern of aggressive maritime behavior towards western vessels operating in the region this year. In August, Iranian craft harassed American warships on
four different occasions in the span of a week, with one incident requiring the
USS Squal, a
Cyclone-class patrol boat, to fire warning shots in response. In a more serious incident in January, Iranian forces
seized ten US sailors when their riverine patrol boats drifted into Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf. The dramatic images and videos of the crew in Iranian custody have been repeatedly used by Iranian media outlets for propaganda purposes and
reports suggest the sailors disclosed sensitive information while at gunpoint. That incident came just days after members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Navy
fired rockets near the aircraft carrier
USS Harry S. Truman as it transited the Strait of Hormuz.
The purpose of increased maritime confrontations appears to be a desire to project Iranian moxie and capability against its enemies amidst conventional military weakness. While the deployment of the
Alvand and
Bushehr are likely a continuation of that effort, it could have the dual purpose of reassuring Tehran’s Houthi allies.
Näyttäisi koko keula menneen, ei tuosta kyllä enää toimivaa saada.
