Israel informed the United States of its responsibility for the military attack on an Iranian ship

Israel has carried out an attack on an Iranian vessel in the Red Sea. This is according to statements made by a US official to the New York Times after confessing that Israel had informed the US of its responsibility for the attack on the Iranian ship Saviz.

The official, who remained anonymous, claimed that the Israeli attack was in retaliation for Iran's having had several attacks on its ships, which were severely damaged. Shipping and other security sources told Al-Ain Al-Ikhbariya that the Iranian ship under attack "belongs to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard". They also report that the offensive "caused extensive damage while it was in Eritrean territorial waters off the northern Yemeni islands". 

According to Al Ain media, the attacked ship has been an active bridge in arms smuggling since 2009, operating off the Yemeni coastline under the control of the Houthis. Indeed, the ship's long presence in the region has been repeatedly criticised by Saudi Arabia as UN experts have repeatedly accused the Persian country of supporting the Houthi rebels in the Yemen war. Iran, on the other hand, continues to deny the accusations, but according to sources, some evidence has been found linking the weapons to Tehran. 

According to the Arab media Al-Arabiya, Israeli commando forces placed the naval mines on the vessel, causing extensive damage, although they failed to sink it. On the other hand, Washington has disassociated itself from the attack and denies having any connection with it.

Similarly, the Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post reported that 'the alleged incident followed two attacks on Israeli ships in the region'. Alongside this they reported on reports of dozens of previous attacks 'carried out by Israel and Iran on warships against each other' in areas that would stretch from the Mediterranean to the Gulf. 

The Israeli navy has increased its presence in the Red Sea area, deploying missile boats and submarines. This response follows an explosion last February on the Israeli ship Helios Ray, which was sailing near Oman. Alongside this, there was another attack by Iran on another Israeli-owned vessel, identified as LORI. This vessel was hit by a small projectile and, as reported by Channel 12, "suffered minimal damage". 

The alleged Israeli attack comes amid negotiations between the US and Iran over Iran's re-entry into the nuclear deal agreed in 2015 after Trump withdrew from it in 2018.

World powers continue to engage with Iranian officials in talks they describe as "constructive". In these meetings, they have agreed to form working groups to discuss the sanctions Washington could lift and the nuclear restrictions Tehran would face, as they try to revive the spirit of the 2015 nuclear deal.