{"id":44757,"date":"2024-01-07T00:30:07","date_gmt":"2024-01-07T00:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/iran-guards-commander-challenges-enemy-naval-presence-in-region-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2024-01-07T00:30:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-07T00:30:07","slug":"iran-guards-commander-challenges-enemy-naval-presence-in-region-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/iran-guards-commander-challenges-enemy-naval-presence-in-region-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran Guards commander challenges ‘enemy’ naval presence in region | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The commander of Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guards vowed on Saturday to reach “the enemy” far and near as tensions soar on key shipping routes\u00a0\u00a0where Tehran\u2019s allies have been attacking vessels.<\/p>\n

“Today, we are facing an all-out battle with the enemy,” said Guards commander Hossein Salami at a ceremony in the southern Gulf port city of Bandar Abbas, where the Guards’ navy unveiled a new ship named “Abu Mahdi” and 100 missile launchers.<\/p>\n

Salami did not name the enemy, but 22 nations have agreed to participate in a US.-led coalition to safeguard commercial traffic in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement.<\/p>\n

Read\u00a0<\/strong>Iran leaders vow revenge at funeral for bomb attack victims – state media<\/a><\/p>\n

The Houthi attacks since November are a show of support for the Palestinian group Hamas in its war with Israel.<\/p>\n

In response, many major shipping companies have switched\u00a0to the longer and more costly route around the Africa’s Cape of Good Hope rather than pass through the Suez Canal, which handles about 12% of global trade.<\/p>\n

“We need to defend our national interests to wherever they extend,” Salami said in a televised speech. “It will be harmful for the enemy to be found near and at a half distant. They should stay away from this area.”<\/p>\n

The Guards\u2019 navy, he said, had made a “brilliant leap in its offensive and defensive powers” to challenge the world\u2019s naval powers.<\/p>\n

According to Iranian media, Iran\u2019s Alborz warship entered the Red Sea earlier this month to secure shipping routes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n