The scope of the ongoing Israel-Iran shadow war is wider than most realize, especially at sea. That according to a report published on Tuesday by Iran’s Nour News.
Calling the Israeli actions “terrorism,” the report asserted that 4 of the 14 Iranian ships had been attacked twice.
The reported strikes took place in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Israel has tacitly acknowledged its involvement in some, but not all of the incidents.
In one particular action, a single container on a large ship was destroyed. This was the result of precise intelligence obtained by the Israelis that the container in question was transporting advanced weaponry, according to the report.
The Iranians suggested that the revelation of this information justified their own involvement in recent actions against Saudi oil facilities and Israel-linked ships in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Israel’s Minister of Regional Cooperation Issawi Frej said on Tuesday that the Jewish state is in regular contact with Saudi Arabia and other leading Gulf states in regards to the Iranian threat.
“When it comes to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, there’s direct communication and understandings,” Frej said in remarks to the US-funded Arabic-language news agency Al-Hurra.
“This is an international issue, not just one that impacts us or Saudi Arabia,” added Frej, who is a member of the far-left Meretz party and the new government’s only Arab minister.
Last week, Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned that Israel stands armed and ready to strike Iran in light of its increased belligerence following the election of the hardline President Ebrahim Raisi.
Gantz however emphasized that this is a mission in which the West and other Middle East allies must take part.
“The world needs to deal with Iran, the region needs to deal with Iran, and Israel also needs to do its part in this situation,” he told the Ynet news portal.