The Iranian Revolutionary Guard formed 55,000 naval forces in response to the United States red sea coalition
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard formed 55,000 naval forces in response to the United States of America forming an alliance to protect navigation security in the Red Sea against Houthi attacks, according to what was stated in a speech by the Commander of the Revolutionary Guard Naval Forces, Ali Reza Tangsiri, during an event at the capital, Tehran.
The Commander of the Revolutionary Guards Naval Forces revealed that Tehran will form forces active in the seas, and said, “We’ve now established the Ocean Mobilization Forces (Basij), and these Basij forces have boats large enough to reach Tanzania, and the next step is to establish the Marine Mobilization Forces”.
He also indicated that this naval mobilization force will consist of 55,000 members, stressing that they have provided the forces of those forces with 107 mm rockets.
Iran’s statement about the formation of naval mobilization forces came after the US administration announced the establishment of multinational forces against attacks carried out by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on international ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea.
In Paris’s first response to the US initiative, Sebastien Lecornu, French Minister of Defense, considered an American initiative to confront threats in the Red Sea interesting and that Paris is still discussing it with Washington.
Lecornu said in his speech in Parliament that “the American initiative enables us to improve the benefit and exchange of intelligence information and various options throughout the region”.
However, the French Minister of Defense, didn’t clarify though, whether France would participate in the operation or continue its unilateral movements.
He added, “Our discussions continue with the American partner within the framework of our independent work and freedom to act”.
For its part, the German Ministry of Economy said, Tuesday, that it’s closely monitoring the situation in the Red Sea in the wake of the attacks launched by Houthi militants in Yemen.
The German Ministry of Economy added that the impact of the current unrest on the economy cannot be estimated at the present time.
It also continued, “But what is clear is that long-term holidays in global trade will negatively affect supply chains and thus the economy”.
Last Monday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the launch of a multinational operation to protect trade in the Red Sea following a series of missile and drone attacks launched by the Houthis.
Austin, who is on a visit to Bahrain, which hosts the US fleet in the Middle East, said that participating countries include Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain.
He also added that they will conduct joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The same spokesman considered that, “this is an international challenge that requires collective action, and therefore today I announced the launch of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative”.
It’s noteworthy that the Houthi group targets ships owned or operated by Israeli companies or transporting goods to and from Israel as they pass through the Bab al Mandab Strait, “in solidarity with the Gaza Strip,” which has been subjected to an ongoing war since October 7, 2023.
The Bab al Mandab Strait, where these attacks are carried out, is located between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa, and connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, and shortens ship journeys by 14 days on average, according to World Trade Organization data.
