In the first naval military response and action to the United States’ establishment of a multinational naval force in the Red Sea, the commander of the naval force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Ali Reza Tangsiri, announced the formation of a “Basij” naval unit that can carry out operations via heavy and light ships up to the shores of Tanzania.

The Tasnim and Fars agencies of the Revolutionary Guard quoted Tangsiri as saying before the forum “The Role of the Basij and the Naval Force of the Islamic Republic,” today, that his forces are working to establish a “naval shadow unit” without providing details.< /p>

Tasnim Agency reported, “The Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy confirms the establishment of a unit of volunteer sailors to carry out operations in the Gulf with ships armed with missiles.”

Tungsiri said: “We have formed a naval base for the ocean, and in these forces, large ships and light ships can sail as far as Tanzania. The next point will be the establishment of a shadow naval unit.”

This is the first time the commander of the Revolutionary Guard Navy speaks frankly about the possibility of using light (wooden) ships in military missions.

In the last two years, British and American forces announced the seizure of wooden ships carrying weapons, which were on their way to the Houthis. It was also announced that several of these ships were seized carrying drug shipments.

The Basij (mobilization) forces are one of the five arms of the Revolutionary Guard. It carries out tasks within the tasks of the ground forces of the Revolutionary Guard, and is like the "popular committees" established by the Houthis as a copy of the Iranian "Basij" experience.

The US Secretary of Defense announced, early Tuesday, a multinational operation to protect trade in the Red Sea in the wake of the Houthi attacks.

He said: “We announce the formation of a multinational force to protect trade in the Red Sea in the wake of the Houthi attacks,” and added that “the countries participating in the force will carry out joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.”

Austin explained: The countries participating in the force include Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain.

He said that the goal of the new force is “to protect freedom of navigation and enhance regional security,” and said that “the Houthi escalation from Yemen threatens the free flow of trade and violates international law.”