On June 21, the Iranian Navy allegedly dispatched two warships to the Gulf of Aden, where a fierce battle is ongoing between the Ansar Allah movement (also known as the Houthis) and the Saudi-led coalition for the port city of al-Hudaydah.
According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the Iranian naval group composed of the Kharg Helicopter Carrier and Sabalan Destroyer. The Iranian side publicy describes its move with a need to secure naval routes and protect merchant vessels and oil tankers against pirates.
The deployment of Iranian warships in the area will likely further complicate relations between Riyadh and Teheran. However, two warships will not be enough to lift a naval blockade from al-Hudaydah.
