Autor fotografie: Fars Media Corporation, CC BY 4.0|Popisek: Shahid Mahdawi
Israel is closely following the operational status of the Iranian container ship that has been converted into a fighting vessel. This as part of Teheran's effort to achieve greater presence in the sea.
The Islamic revolutionary guards corps (IRGC) affiliated Tasnim news agency announced the news of Shahid Mahdawi, a container ship converted into a fighting vessel. The vessel, which officially joined the IRGC Navy in March 2023, weighs over 2,100 tons and measures 240 meters in length and 27 meters in width. In February, the IRGC conducted a test-launch of medium-range missiles from the Shahid Mahdawi, which it claims can strike targets up to 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) away. The launch marked the first instance of Iran sending a naval ship on such a long-range mission.
New close defence relations between Iran and Russia
The presence of the heavily armed vessel raises concerns about regional security, particularly in light of Iran's recent hijackings in the Strait of Hormuz and military activity in the Gulf of Oman, and its support for the Yemeni Houthis who have been blockading the Red Sea region since November. Iran allegedly operates spy ships in the Red Sea, including the commercial cargo ships Behshad and Saviz, which have been linked to espionage activities without any direct confrontation from the US, despite awareness of their operations.
The new close defence relations between Iran and Russia raises new concerns about the growing of the Iranian naval capabilities. "Iran is selling armed drones to Russia that are being used in Ukraine. Iran is transferring medium range ballistic missiles to Russia. This new cooperation will without any doubt help Iran enhance its naval force that until now was not a real factor," an Israeli sources told Naval News. The Iranian Army Navy's 98th Fleet returned to its base last week following the successful completion of an extended deployment in the Red Sea.
According to the Iranian Meher news agency, after completing a 126-day operation in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea with the goal of securing the nation's shipping lines, the 98th Fleet of Iran's Army Navy docked in Bandar Abbas on Saturday. "The Iranian Jamaran destroyer effectively guarded and protected the nation's oil tankers, commercial ships, and the Islamic Republic's shipping lines throughout the mission."
New corvettes and submarines in Israeli service
Israel is closely following the development related to the Iranian navy. The Israeli navy in recent years received big portions of the defence budget. This after years in which the Israeli airforce was the one that got the major funding. This increase in budget allowed the Israeli navy to purchase the new SAAR 6 corvettes and Dolphin type submarines made in Germany. These two very advanced naval platforms have been equipped after arriving in Israel with a long list of Israeli developed systems that enhance their operational capabilities.
The changes are highly classified but sources here say that they have added to the over and under water platforms the capabilities needed to confront any hostilities from Iran but also to make them the right tools for what is called "preemptive strikes". It can be said that in recent years some very advanced Israeli long range strike weapons have been launched from some of the Israeli navy's over water platforms. One that has been exposed to the public is the launch of the Long Range Artillery (LORA) missile from a SAAR 6 missile corvette. The LORA has been developed by Israel aerospace industries (IAI).
In the ongoing war with the Hezbollah in Gaza Israeli navy's ships were seen launching different types of weapons to hit targets in Gaza.
By Arie Egozi