Iranian Warship Sinks During Repairs in Port

July 8, 2024 TruthUSA

Several individuals sustained minor injuries in the incident.

Several people were hospitalized with minor injuries after the Iranian naval frigate Sahand capsized while being repaired in the southern port of Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by Tehran’s state-run news agency IRNA on July 6.

The 1,300-ton destroyer “lost its balance” due to water entering the ship’s tanks during repairs, according to IRNA. Efforts are underway to reposition the vessel, with the reason for its repair still unclear.

The Sahand destroyer, named after a mountain in northern Iran, took six years to construct and was launched into the Persian Gulf in December 2018.

Described by the Iranian navy as the “most advanced frigate in Western Asia,” the 315-foot vessel is equipped with various missiles, anti-aircraft batteries, and advanced radar capabilities.

Sent to the Gulf of Aden in 2019 for a prolonged mission, Habibollah Sayyari, coordinating deputy of the Iranian Army, stated the vessel was ensuring the security of Iranian ships in international waters in the Oman Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Regional Tensions

Tensions in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have escalated following the onset of the Israel–Hamas conflict in Gaza, triggered by a large-scale Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The Iranian-backed Houthis have been targeting commercial vessels in response to the Israeli military actions against Hamas in Gaza.

The Houthis have targeted over 60 vessels using missiles and drones during their campaign, resulting in the death of four sailors. They have captured one vessel and sunk two since November 2023.

The most recent ship to sink due to Houthi attacks was the MV Tutor, a Greek-owned bulk carrier that was abandoned after being struck by a Houthi unmanned surface vessel in the Red Sea in June.

The MV Tutor is the second ship sunk by the Houthis in three months, following the sinking of the UK-owned Rubymar in the Red Sea on March 2, hit by a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile.

The Houthis claim their attacks target vessels associated with Israel, the United States, or the UK, despite many of the targeted ships having little or no connection to the Israel–Hamas conflict.

U.S. armed forces have been targeting missiles and radar sites in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen to diminish the ability of the Houthis to launch attacks. In February, U.S. and UK forces conducted extensive strikes against 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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