Iran has sent two warships near the Strait of Bab al Mandeb
Meetings between US and Iranian naval vessels are often strained, as evidenced by the series of incidents that took place this summer in the Persian Gulf (GAP). And it may be the same in the Gulf of Aden, where one of the three
Class frigate Alvand and the supply ship Bushehr (Bandar Abbas class) were sent on mission by Tehran.
If the two vessels in question were a priori paired October 5, announcing their departure was made that October 13, the Iranian news agency Tasnim News. The mission of the Iranian frigate and supply ship that accompanies it will include patrol the strategic Strait of Bab al Mandeb there to protect merchant vessels against pirates "before traveling to Tanzania.
Precisely, the location near the Strait of Bab al Mandeb is particularly tense since two attacks against the destroyer USS Mason and the logistics ship USS Ponce, from the territories controlled by the Houthis in Yemen rebels, supported by Tehran.
Moreover, the announcement of sending Iranian ships in the area comes after US strikes carried out by the destroyer USS Nitze, by BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles against three radars used by Houthi rebels. Note that they deny being involved in the firing of missiles that targeted the buildings of the US Navy on 9 and 12 October.
Note that the Alvand class frigate are not unknown in the US Navy. In 1988, during the Battle of the oil platforms Sassan and Sirri, the Sahand frigate, one of four in this class which were in service with the Iranian naval forces had indeed been cast by plane A -6 Intruder.
