Israel warns Iran of military response if it closed key Red Sea strait

 

FILE PHOTO - Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits new army recruits at a military base in Ramat Gan, Israel July 26, 2018 REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

 

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel would deploy its military if Iran were to try to block the Bab al-Mandeb strait that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday.

 

Last week, Saudi Arabia said it was suspending oil shipments through the strait, on the main sea route from the Middle East to Europe, after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis attacked two ships in the waterway.

 

Saudi Arabia and Iran are in a three-year-old proxy war in Yemen, which lies on the southern side of Bab al-Mandeb.

 

Yemen's Houthis, who have previously threatened to block the strait, said last week they had the naval capability to hit Saudi ports and other Red Sea targets.

 

Iran has not threatened to block Bab al-Mandeb but has said it would block the Strait of Hormuz, at the mouth of the Gulf, if it were prevented from exporting its own oil.

 

"If Iran will try to block the straits of Bab al-Mandeb, I am certain that it will find itself confronting an international coalition that will be determined to prevent this, and this coalition will also include all of Israel's military branches," Netanyahu said at a passing out parade for new naval officers in Haifa.

 

Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a separate speech at the event that Israel had "recently heard of threats to harm Israeli ships in the Red Sea." He gave no further details.

 

Ships bound for Israel, mainly from Asia, pass through the waterway to Eilat, or continue through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean Sea. Ships bound for Jordan's Aqaba port and for some Saudi destinations must also pass through the strait.

 

Bab al-Mandeb is 29 km (18 miles) wide, making hundreds of ships potentially an easy target. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said an estimated 4.8 million barrels per day of crude oil and products flowed through it in 2016.

 

Israel has attacked Iranian forces in Syria and has insisted that they leave Syria completely. They have withdrawn to a distance of 85 km (53 miles) from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Russia's special envoy to Syria said on Wednesday.

 

(Writing by Ori Lewis; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-08-02

War Monger just because he has a Pet Eagle

Iran knows that The US and The EU will deliver a few boisterous threats but when Israel makes a statement ,then Iran pays attention because they mean it.

4 hours ago, Kiwiken said:

War Monger just because he has a Pet Eagle

 

No. He's reminding Iran of the consequences should they illegally try to block an international sea way. Something they have previously threatened.

4 hours ago, Kiwiken said:

War Monger just because he has a Pet Eagle

But that pet Eagle is led by a  proven coward.

53 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

No. He's reminding Iran of the consequences should they illegally try to block an international sea way. Something they have previously threatened.

And who is trying to illegally block Irans oil shipments?

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

No. He's reminding Iran of the consequences should they illegally try to block an international sea way. Something they have previously threatened.

Perhaps Israel could fix the South China Sea problem?

I hope that threat helps. Iran should not do that. But also, "trump" should never have broken the Iran nuclear deal. Iran was following it. Why should Iran bother new negotiations with a country that doesn't honor previous signed deals? I feel for the Iranian people now. Their currency has crashed and their hostile reaction to that is not going to be against their own government, which is awful of course, but instead towards the USA (and Israel). I guess -- stay tuned. 

24 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Perhaps Israel could fix the South China Sea problem?

I wouldn't hold your breath on that one. 

 

10 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I hope that threat helps. Iran should not do that. But also, "trump" should never have broken the Iran nuclear deal. Iran was following it. Why should Iran bother new negotiations with a country that doesn't honor previous signed deals? I feel for the Iranian people now. Their currency has crashed and their hostile reaction to that is not going to be against their own government, which is awful of course, but instead towards the USA (and Israel). I guess -- stay tuned. 

Actually Trump's decision strengthens the most conservative and aggressive political faction, and weakens the moderate one.

Add to it that the concept of "martyr" is at the heart of the Shia religion....

Edited August 2, 20188 yr by candide

9 minutes ago, candide said:

Actually Trump's decision strengthens the most conservative and aggressive political faction, and weakens the moderate one.

Add to it that the concept of "martyr" is at the heart of the Shia religion....

Yes, I agree. It was moronic and dangerous to break that agreement. It degrades the word of the USA for everything and anything and it may take decades to repair damage like that. 

I am not naive about the Iranian government though. 

They are indeed bad actors in various places, but they were honoring the deal. 

It's possible to detest both governments. 

Make that three. Israel's government has been a big cheerleader to break that agreement as well. 

Edited August 2, 20188 yr by Jingthing

trump would love the oppertunity to .....

7 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Yes, I agree. It was moronic and dangerous to break that agreement. It degrades the word of the USA for everything and anything and it may take decades to repair damage like that. 

I am not naive about the Iranian government though. 

They are indeed bad actors in various places, but they were honoring the deal. 

It's possible to detest both governments. 

Make that three. Israel's government has been a big cheerleader to break that agreement as well. 

Four with Saudi Arabia. The only way to peace would be to have them make reciprocal concessions, but that's not the current direction.

4 hours ago, AsiaHand said:

Iran knows that The US and The EU will deliver a few boisterous threats but when Israel makes a statement ,then Iran pays attention because they mean it.

 

I don't think the US would seat idly by if Iran tries to pull such a stunt. And I don't think Iran ignores or doesn't pay attention to what the US says or does - tough words aside.

 

3 hours ago, gamini said:

And who is trying to illegally block Irans oil shipments?

 

No one.

Introducing economic sanctions is not "illegal", and I doubt that the US is actively blocking Iranian ports.

1 hour ago, candide said:

Actually Trump's decision strengthens the most conservative and aggressive political faction, and weakens the moderate one.

Add to it that the concept of "martyr" is at the heart of the Shia religion....

 

I think assessments as to Iran's internal balance of power are somewhat murky. Also, probably not quite as clear cut as universally strengthening one faction and weakening the other. In terms of economical trouble, I think both of the factions (as defined by Western media) are domestically criticized. Some of this doesn't necessarily have a whole lot to do with the Iran Deal, even.

 

 

Once it has happened in 80’s during Iran-Iraq war. It will be really stupid if Iran regim tries again. They should know that the result will be just about the same as 1st time.