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Iran’s fast attack craft fleet: behind the hyperbole

Iran's purchase of the British made world-record setting Bladerunner speedboat stirred up increased chatter on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy's (IRGCN) development of a new fast attack craft (FAC) fleet. Simon O. Williams looks beyond the hyperbole to examine FACs in the context of wider developments in Iran's naval arsenal.

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Technical analysts, policy advisors, strategic planners and even the media rallied around the key buzzwords of ‘anti-access / area denial’ (A2/AD), ‘hybrid warfare’ and ‘swarm tactics’, hyping up the situation. Despite using such niche terminology and increased discussion in the public domain, it is necessary to look beyond the IRGCN’s provocative rhetoric to evaluate such developments in their naval arsenal.

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Science applications international corp, saic pty limited, fac holdings, inc., caterpillar inc, reverse engineering the bladerunner.

Manufactured by Ice Marine, the Bladerunner, sold through a structure of international transactions, ended up in Bandar Abbas, Iran’s largest port, which houses the IRGCN’s headquarters. There, the vessel was dissected, rebuilt and armed with sophisticated weapons systems. Like previous platforms, design analysis from reverse engineering procedures was used to build and commission a fleet of clones capable of executing IRGCN missions in Iran’s littoral areas in the Strait of Hormuz.

Questions were raised about Iran’s ability to copy the main performance components of the Bladerunner, specifically the twin 1,000 HP Caterpillar C18 inboard engines and Arneson ASD12 surface drives, but technical experts suggest that Iran may well have the capabilities to replicate these components and IRGCN leadership claims they’ve already succeeded. With these systems, speed alone would offer the vessels a competitive offensive and defensive performance edge, allowing hit-and-run activities to be executed with top-notch manoeuvrability.

Comparing these activities to Iranian operations during parts of the Iran-Iraq War, dubbed the Tanker War, it is evident that the IRGCN has taken modernisation seriously. Their goal is to replace their underperforming Chinese and North Korean vessels with indigenously produced FACs to participate in ‘swarm attacks,’ a tactic in which waves of small vessels attack a larger slow capital target overwhelming it with small arms / RPG / missile fire, or even ramming it in suicide kamikaze-style attacks. Judging by aesthetics alone, the new fleet emits an air of professionalism as depicted in the box-out comparison.

Arming a faster fleet

These vessels can be outfitted in a variety of configurations, ranging from small arms to cruise missiles. Image analysis reveals that the majority are armed with at least one mounted DShKM 1938 heavy machine gun (12.7×108 mm, slightly larger than .50 cal), as well as 107mm or other similar rocket-launchers.

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Iran’s missile capabilities continue to grow. In reference to arming FACs, deputy defence minister and head of Iran’s Aerospace Organisation, General Mehdi Farah, stated that the country’s “missiles have the capability of being launched from vessels with speeds of over 30 knots, and these missiles include Zafar, Nasr, Noor and Qader.” These are radar guided anti-ship cruise missiles capable of destroying 1,500-tonne targets and damaging even larger ones.

On top of this, the Iranians have imported Russian Shkval torpedoes and created indigenous clones, which they claim are outfitted on some of their FACs. These torpedoes which travel around 200 knots are a threat as many modern seaborne radar and targeting systems cannot engage surface projectiles at that speed.

Iran has already begun practicing delivery of Chinese made EM series and other devices from FACs in the Caspian in order to avoid further tension in the Gulf. Using these assets together with other conventional systems, Iran bolsters its A2/AD capabilities for control of Hormuz. Deploying mines in the strait would leverage Iran’s FAC capabilities, forcing any power to think twice about intervening in the region, let alone transiting the Strait – firstly because of the psychological deterrent of operating in a constricted mined waterway, and second for the expensive, prolonged and dangerous task of post-conflict demining.

Controlling the Strait of Hormuz

The IRGCN seeks to develop and maintain a force capable of preserving Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz. Jumping to conclusions about coalition forces having superior defensive surface capabilities and airpower, which may be correct, unfortunately places thorough analysis of the IRGCN in the backseat. It is imperative to keep in mind Iran’s willpower and creativity and not underestimate the potential of the IRGCN, to execute spontaneous unconventional operations with its ever-growing asymmetric fleet against military or civil assets.

Though a handful of FACs can be easily defeated with a wide array of defensive technologies, including helicopter-launched over-the-horizon targeting systems, a ‘swarm’ of such craft in the triple digits would be beyond overwhelming. Populating the local maritime domain with such a saturation of vessels could render defensive targeting systems useless, as they may not be able to simultaneously monitor, let alone engage, hundreds of swarming Iranian FACs. Moreover, RoE may not be cleared to engage all targets until they are identified, pose a direct threat, and are within their own offensive range.

While the likelihood of an FAC swarm attack against coalition military vessels remains unlikely, should Iran choose to turn its FACs against even one commercial vessel, it could cause catastrophic damage, with global policy and private sector ramifications. The FACs can swiftly outmanoeuvre the civil and military traffic in this relatively narrow and confined waterway and instigate problems, ranging from harassment of military vessels as already done, to a variety of direct attacks against commercial assets in Hormuz, reminiscent of the Tanker War.

Managing director of Strategic Analysis political risk consultancy, Ruth Lux, said: “The Strait of Hormuz is the most important oil chokepoint in the world and Iran is unlikely to close it as its economy is dependent on exporting upwards of two million barrels of oil a day via the Strait. Furthermore, Iran does not want to alienate those countries which oppose broader sanctions and it knows that a closure of the Strait would result in a US-led military response, which Iran wants to avoid. Continued Iranian threats are already having a negative impact on the energy market as Iran is capable of executing damage to infrastructure and harassment of vessels without full closure of the Strait.”

While there appears to be no doubt that a closure of the Strait would be just as detrimental to Iran as to other countries dependent on energy supply from the Gulf, the IRGCN continues to reaffirm its ready ability to close the Strait of Hormuz at ease if provoked. Should a threatened Iran choose to take any A2/AD action in this strategic waterway, it would most likely come as a hybrid operation – using Iran’s FAC fleet in support of shore-based missile capabilities and rapid deployment of naval mines to restrict access through Hormuz. Using these assets together, Iran may be able to leverage its capabilities to execute a more serious and sustained A2/AD operation than commonly perceived.

Seraj-1 fast attack craft

Built on the Bladerunner design, known for its stability, high mobility and power, this vessel was first indigenously cloned in 2010 and then mass produced between 2011 and 2012. The original Bladerunner has a remarkable top cruising speed of 65 knots, but IRGC naval commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi claims his Seraj-1 vessels are modified to 80-85 knots, with later generations expected to reach a target goal of 100 knots. Images show the Seraj-1 outfitted with modified 107mm rocket launchers (11 tubes) and a forward mounted DShKM 1938 heavy machine gun, though other weapon configurations are of course possible.

Torgah fast attack craft, or ‘Boghammar’

These are modified versions of the fast attack craft bought in 1984 from Sweden’s Boghammar Marin during the Tanker Wars and later refitted with Seatek diesel engines and a variety of large calibre armaments, most notably over-bridge 107mm rocket launchers and forward mounted DShKM. In the mid 2000s the Maritime Industries Group, a component of Iran’s state Defence Industries Organisation, began reproducing mono and double-hull variants indigenously.

Zolfaghar fast attack craft

These lightly armoured, indigenously produced Iranian FACs are capable of speeds up to 70 knots. Note the twin tubes for Nasr-1 cruise missiles, as well as forward and rear mounted DShKMs.

Iran has included development of ekranoplans (sea-skimming ground effect vessels) to its FAC portfolio. The Bavar-2 is Iran’s miniature version of a ground effect vehicle design never seriously developed for military use except by the USSR. Iran has built small ekranoplans capable of high speeds over flat land as well as water. The Iranians claim this craft is ‘stealth’ due to its low profile, though specialists indicate otherwise, especially as its exposed engines will glow in thermal imaging. Moreover, IRGN leadership has stated their ekranoplans are armed with machine guns and surveillance cameras.

There has been speculation that the IRGN may use FACs for suicide missions. Some experts argue that FACs used in a suicide-style attack against multibillion dollar navy vessels would be catastrophic. Historically, however, suicide attacks have never been common operating procedure for any navy, let alone Iran, though it should not be ruled out due to increased radicalisation among the IRGC ranks. In today’s paradigm, however, remote controlled, unmanned vessels may be able to deliver a similar affect without the loss of a pilot’s life. Iran has developed the remote-controlled stealth Ya Mahdi, a high-speed unmanned and radar-evasive vessel to do just that.

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New Iranian Warship Signals Longer Maritime Reach, More Aggressive Strategy

Farzin Nadimi, a Senior Fellow with The Washington Institute, is a Washington-based analyst specializing in the security and defense affairs of Iran and the Persian Gulf region.

Although Tehran tends to exaggerate its naval achievements and blue-water capabilities, the heavy investments it has made in this sector are yielding regionally significant progress.

On September 5, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy launched the Shahid Soleimani , its first of at least three new catamaran missile corvettes with potential stealth features. According to IRGCN chief Adm. Alireza Tangsiri, the vessels will increase the navy’s operational reach beyond the Persian Gulf to as far away as 9,000 km, which would cover the entire Indian Ocean down to Cape Town. The IRGCN has long aspired to send warships to waters near the United States as a propaganda achievement and show of defiance, but it has not been very successful with long-range naval operations thus far—notwithstanding the July 2021 voyage in which the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) deployed the converted supertanker Makran and another vessel to St. Petersburg, Russia, using a circuitous route that circled Africa and crossed in and out of the Mediterranean Sea.    

During the launch ceremony for the Shahid Soleimani (FS313-01), IRGC chief Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami called the aluminum warship a new high point in Iran’s strategic competition as a world-class power bent on establishing regional hegemony over its adversaries. According to him, the country’s “national security domain and radius go as far as where our interests rest”—including faraway seas if so determined by the Armed Forces General Staff.

The New Ship’s Capabilities

Similar in length (65 meters) and capability to Taiwan’s Tuo Chiang-class missile corvette launched in 2014, the Shahid Soleimani is designed to support and provide protective fires for high-speed armed boats far from Iranian waters. This includes the three boats it can carry itself. The Taiwanese class is designed to counter Chinese naval vessels via hit-and-run tactics and has been dubbed a “carrier killer.” The same nickname has been applied to the smaller Chinese Type 22 catamaran missile boat, which Iran reportedly tried to buy in past years before producing its own class (Beijing refused to sell). The IRGCN also claims that the Shahid Soleimani is a “stealth” vessel with the radar cross-section of a small boat, though its actual capabilities in this regard are uncertain.

Regarding weapon systems, the new vessel is the first Iranian warship equipped with vertical launchers that can fire antiaircraft missiles up to a claimed range of 150 km. It can also use six box launchers to fire antiship missiles such as the Nasir, Ghader, and Ghadir, with ranges of 35 to 300 km. Taken together, these capabilities led Iranian officials to claim that Shahid Soleimani has a “lethal range” in excess of 750 km. To be sure, Iran already has other weapon systems that meet or exceed that range, such as the Abu Mahdi antiship and land-attack cruise missile unveiled in 2020, which can reportedly reach 700-1,000 km. Yet the Shahid Soleimani could greatly extend its reach (albeit with less destructive punch) by launching suicide drones such as the Shahed-131 or 136, which can strike targets up to 1,000 km away (or even 2,200 km according to some unconfirmed sources). The vessel may also be able to launch the Quds-1/2 cruise missile and “Article 385” loitering antiaircraft cruise missile that Iran previously provided to Houthi forces in Yemen.

As for electronic warfare capabilities, the ship is reportedly able to carry extensive equipment of this type, including advanced decoy launchers. In its current configuration, however, Shahid Soleimani has minimal electronic equipment installed.

Catamarans are generally faster and more maneuverable than conventional ships and offer better stability and seakeeping at rougher seas thanks to their twin hull design. This also makes them harder to sink—though aluminum ship hulls tend to melt quickly if set afire by a sea mine, missile, or other projectile (as seen when a catamaran operated by the United Arab Emirates was wrecked by a single Houthi missile in October 2016 while transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait).

A Naval Industry in the Making

More missile corvettes of the same type as Shahid Soleimani are currently being built at shipyards in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, and Bushehr, and the IRGCN claims it will roll them out at a rate of one per year, indicating an expedited delivery schedule. The prime contractor for this program is the IRGCN’s Shahid Mahalati Naval Industries, with the Defense Ministry firms Shahid Darvishi and Shahid Mahboobi working as subcontractors.

In November 2018, Iran’s parliament passed a law merging all Defense Ministry marine factories and industrial groups into one entity, the “Marine Industries Organization of the Armed Forces.” Collectively, these firms produce everything from small speedboats to frigate-size warships, medium submarines, Aframax tankers, diesel engines, waterjets, gearboxes, and so forth, with the aim of making Iran’s domestic naval production fully self-sufficient. This goal may be facilitated by the fact that Iran’s marine industries are believed to be less affected by U.S. sanctions than its aviation and missile industries.

Strategic Implications

Iran vehemently objects to the U.S. naval presence in Middle East waters, with IRGCN officials noting that they work daily to prepare and expand their arsenal toward the goal of repelling U.S. forces . Another key mission has emerged over the past couple years: deterring Israel from expanding its maritime reach to waters near Iran following Jerusalem’s normalization of relations with the UAE and Bahrain. Tehran has also been expanding its supposed “maritime security” presence in the Red Sea after a slew of strikes against Iranian ships there, culminating in the April 2021 attack on the floating armory/spy ship Saviz .

In addition, IRGCN officials note that  Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has called on them to expand their reach to “far seas,” framing this mission as a supplement to IRIN’s “strategic blue-water responsibility” but looking more like direct competition with it. In any case, once the Shahid Soleimani completes its protracted sea trial period, the new vessel class may give the IRGCN significant new capabilities—namely, longer-range deployment of missile boats, antiship/antiaircraft missiles, and drones. Coupled with the converted mothership/replenishment vessels Shahid Roudaki (L110-1) and Shahid Mahdavi (110-3), the new corvettes will likely enable sustained IRGCN operations farther into the Indian Ocean and perhaps beyond, including support for smaller and more covert speedboat missions.

Of course, the IRGCN has made a habit of exaggerating its accomplishments in the past, and its overall capabilities remain a far cry from America’s both quantitatively and qualitatively. Yet its modest progress toward sustained blue-water operations is undeniable, and there are a number of scenarios in which it could pose a considerable threat to U.S. Navy assets and facilities, not to mention international freedom of commerce and navigation. Going forward, IRGCN assets can be expected to cause trouble farther down the Indian Ocean, both to divert attention and resources from the Persian Gulf and to disrupt regional maritime security initiatives. Iran might also seek to project naval power in the East Mediterranean and escort cargo ships carrying weapons to Syrian ports, especially now that Israel is increasingly pressuring its air-land logistical hubs deeper inside Syria.

Accordingly, the United States and its partners should closely scrutinize the IRGCN’s evolving role and development of new systems. This is especially true today because Iran’s domestic industrial base is gradually beginning to catch up and deliver suitable platforms and associated subsystems, whether by building them from the ground up or converting and repurposing merchant ships.

Farzin Nadimi is an associate fellow with The Washington Institute, specializing in security and defense in Iran and the Gulf region.

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Iranian Speed Boats Run Circles Around U.S. Navy Ships

But the tiny armed boats wouldn’t have lasted long if shooting broke out.

• The tiny speed boats are part of a force designed to intimidate larger ships, or swarm them in combat.
• Neither side opened fire, but the U.S. ships would have made short work of the speedboats had shooting broke out.

A flotilla of armed speed boats belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps harassed a convoy of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard warships at sea on Wednesday, darting between the larger ships and generally zipping around in an unsafe manner. The boats are part of Iran’s armed forces patrolling the Persian Gulf. The incident took place among a background of heightened tension between the two countries that included the assassination of a top Iranian general by the U.S. military and the bombardment of a U.S. military base in Iraq by Iranian missiles.

The incident took place on April 15 in what the U.S. Navy calls the North Arabian Gulf (and what Iran calls the Persian Gulf). Six U.S. ships, the expeditionary base Lewis B. Puller , guided missile destroyer Paul Hamilton , Patrol boats Firebolt and Sirocco , and the Coast Guard Cutters Wrangell and Maui were sailing in international waters when 11 heavily armed speed boats of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy (IRGCN) intercepted the American flotilla.

In a statement on the incident, the U.S. Navy reported:

“...the IRGCN vessels repeatedly crossed the bows and sterns of the U.S. vessels at extremely close range and high speeds, including multiple crossings of the Puller with a 50 yard closest point of approach (CPA) and within 10 yards of Maui's bow.

The U.S. crews issued multiple warnings via bridge-to-bridge radio, five short blasts from the ships' horns and long-range acoustic noise maker devices, but received no response from the IRGCN.

After approximately one hour, the IRGCN vessels responded to the bridge-to-bridge radio queries, then maneuvered away from the U.S. ships and opened distance between them.”

Video of the incident taken from U.S. ships appears to back the Navy’s claim. Several small Iranian boats, armed with machine guns, make unsafe passes near the American ships, causing them to blow their horns. Here’s one video taken from one of the Cyclone -class patrol boats , either Firebolt or Sirocco . The crewman on the Iranian ship is standing behind an Iranian-manufactured copy of a 12.7 Russian heavy machine gun. One U.S. sailor remarks that the Iranian ship’s gun is “unpinned,” meaning it can swivel freely in its mount.

Another video of the incident shows an Iranian boat passing the stern of the USS Lewis Puller . As the boat disappears from view, the camera catches two U.S. Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopters on the Puller 's flight deck. The two Apaches, part of the Army's Task Force Saber, have spent the last several weeks training to fly from the Puller’s large flight deck, using it as a mobile base of operations.

The U.S. Navy called the actions “dangerous and unprofessional.” Iran’s government issued no official statement but the country’s Foreign Minister posted the following tweet a day after the incident:

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy is a paramilitary organization responsible for both protecting Iran’s coastline within the Persian/North Arabian Gulf and projecting naval power into it. The IRGCN manages a motley assortment of hundreds, if not thousands of armed speedboats, Boston Whaler-type craft, and other small, fast watercraft. These boats are typically manned by two or three Revolutionary Guardsmen and equipped with 12.7-millimeter /.50 caliber machine guns, RPG rocket propelled grenade launchers, and 107-millimeter multiple rocket launchers. The IRGCN trains to swarm much larger boats, overwhelming them with sheer numbers while inflicting as much damage as possible.

The ships on the U.S. side are much larger and pack far greater firepower than their Iranian counterparts. The destroyer Paul Hamilton is equipped with one 5-inch rapid fire deck gun, one 25-millimeter deck gun, four .50 caliber machine guns, and a Phalanx 20-millimeter Gatling gun. Firebolt and Sirocco are at 288 tons the smallest surface combatants in the U.S. Navy, each armed with two 25-millimeter guns, two .50 caliber machine guns, and two Mk. 19 automatic grenade launchers. Even the two Island -class patrol boats mount a 25-millimeter gun and two heavy machine guns. And of course, let’s not forget the two AH-64E attack helicopters on Puller ’s deck.

If shooting had started, the tiny Iranian fleet would have lasted about as long as a television commercial. Fortunately, the Iranians weren’t there to fight. Instead, they were there to remind the Americans their presence had not gone unnoticed.

Kyle Mizokami is a writer on defense and security issues and has been at Popular Mechanics since 2015. If it involves explosions or projectiles, he's generally in favor of it. Kyle’s articles have appeared at The Daily Beast, U.S. Naval Institute News, The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, Combat Aircraft Monthly, VICE News , and others. He lives in San Francisco.

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Iranian boats come 'dangerously' close to US navy warships

• IRGC navy boats condemned for ‘harassing approaches’
• US officials say 11 small boats circled six US warships

Iranian navy vessels came within 10 yards of American warships in the Persian Gulf in what the US navy described as a series of “dangerous and harassing approaches”.

The close encounters on Wednesday and the aggressive tactics pursued by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy, visible from photos and video released by the US Fifth Fleet, represent a blow to the Trump administration’s claims to have “restored deterrence” in its relations with Iran.

Coming on the same day that the US navy said that a Russian warplane performed an “unsafe” intercept of one of its surveillance planes over the Mediterranean, the incidents also served as a reminder that the coronavirus pandemic has not ended dangerous military rivalries around the world.

According the US Naval Forces Central Command, 11 small Iranian boats circled six US warships.

“The IRGCN vessels repeatedly crossed the bows and sterns of the US vessels at extremely close range and high speeds,” a statement said, adding that the Iranian vessels performed multiple crossings of two of the US ships, coming as close as 10 yards.

“US crews issued multiple warnings via bridge-to-bridge radio, five short blasts from the ships’ horns and long-range acoustic noise-maker devices, but received no response,” the Central Command statement said.

The Iranian sailors only responded to bridge-to-bridge radio contacts after an hour of manoeuvring, and then moved away.

“The IRGCN’s dangerous and provocative actions increased the risk of miscalculation and collision,” the US statement said, adding that the Iranian actions were in violation of maritime conventions and international law.

Pictures and video released by the US navy show multiple small boats, moving at speed and throwing up pronounced wakes behind them, performing sharp turns around the American vessels.

After the drone killing of the top IRGC general Qassem Suleimani in Baghdad in January, the Trump administration claimed it had “restored deterrence” against Iranian military ambitions in the region

However, there have been several rocket attacks on Iraqi bases housing US and allied troops since then, and Iran’s naval forces have been increasingly assertive. On Tuesday, they boarded a Hong Kong-flagged tanker and diverted it into Iranian waters before releasing it.

“As expected, Iran is continuing to flex muscle amid the global pandemic, because unlike what Iran hawks keep telling you, it’s neither deterred nor about to hit the pause button on tensions with the US to focus on public health,” Ariane Tabatabai, a Middle East fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the US, wrote on Twitter.

In the incident over the Mediterranean on Wednesday, a Russian Su-35 jet was said by the US navy to have performed a high-speed manoeuvre, flying upside-down just 25ft in front of a US P-8 surveillance plane.

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Iranian boats approach Navy ship in Persian Gulf while U.S. general aboard

PERSIAN GULF — Iranian Navy fast boats came close to the USS Essex, a U.S. Navy assault ship, and at least one of the other ships in the Essex Amphibious Ready Group in the Persian Gulf Friday while a top U.S. general was aboard.

The armed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy FIACs (fast inshore attack craft) approached both the USS Rushmore and the Essex, coming within about 300 yards of the Essex at one point.

NBC News was on the ship's bridge during part of the incident.

Gen. Joseph Votel, commanding general of U.S. Central Command, was visiting and watching from the bridge as six Iranian FIACs moved closer to the Essex and as one cut straight in front of the ship's path.

"What is the prefix of your side number?" an Iranian sailor asked over a radio transmission, another way of asking the Essex its nation of origin. An American sailor on board the Essex identified the U.S. ships to the Iranians, describing them as coalition warships. The Iranian boats continued to maneuver around the U.S. ships, even after the Essex warned of danger.

The captain of the Essex described the interactions as "safe and professional," but said they were "annoying."

Capt. Brian Mutty said that during a radio transmission from earlier in the day an IRGCN sailor issued a threat, warning that if the Essex continued to fly one of its helicopters around the Iranian boats, the Iranians would shoot at it.

The chopper continued to fly, no shots were fired and the U.S. ships were not forced to deviate from their course during the interactions.

Gen. Votel called the interactions "normal, safe and professional interaction out here in international waters." He went on to praise the professionalism and vigilance of the Essex crew.

Votel described the Iranian boats' behavior as normal, and said much of what the Iranians do in the region is "shadowing."

"They are trying to watch what we're doing and trying to characterize it," he said during an interview on the USS Essex.

From about 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. local time, two Iranian Cougar class boats and two Kuch-class boats shadowed the Essex, coming within 700 yards.

At 9:30 a.m., two Iranian Peykapp-class patrol boats arrived and the other four craft left. One of the two Peykapp boats came within 300 yards of the Essex.

Over the summer, President Trump tweeted that the Iranian Navy had not harassed any U.S. Navy ships in the region during all of 2018.

Iranian Harassment of U.S. Warships: 2015: 22 2016: 36 2017: 14 2018: 0 Source: @USNavy — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2018

While the U.S. Navy hasn't had any interactions with Iran that the U.S. deemed unsafe and unprofessional or as full-fledged "harassment," Iranian boats in the region continue to pester ships on a routine basis, according to the sailors on board the USS Essex.

Capt. Gerald Olin, commander of the Amphibious Ready Group, said Iranian boats shadowing U.S. Navy ships was still routine while operating in the region, especially in international waters.

He described another radio transmission with the Iranians, explaining that the Iranians, "questioned what we were doing." He said it is common for Iranian boats to approach U.S. ships maneuvering to within a quarter of a mile.

Asked whether the re-imposition of sanctions against Iran in early November could lead to more aggressive actions by Iran in the area, Gen. Votel said, "I think Iran is always a concern," adding, "we will be vigilant as we always are."

Courtney Kube is a correspondent covering national security and the military for the NBC News Investigative Unit.

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U.S. Navy Shares Video of Iranian Speedboats Harassing American Vessels

The U.S. Navy released part of a video Tuesday showing speedboats and a larger ship from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) harassing American vessels in the Persian Gulf.

The IRGC boats were employing "unsafe and unprofessional" maneuvers—repeatedly crossing in front of the U.S. patrol boats at close range despite multiple warnings—according to the Navy. The first public announcement of the April 2 encounter came from the Navy on April 24.

The Navy reported the IRGC speedboats and a larger support vessel were swarming around two U.S. Coast Guard vessels, performing maneuvers characterized as potentially dangerous within 70 yards of the American ships. The encounter was said to have lasted for around three hours, during which the U.S. vessels repeatedly warned the Iranians boats to cease operating in such a manner.

The April 2 incident came on the same day President Joe Biden 's administration announced it would begin indirect negotiations with Iran in an attempt to get both countries back into compliance with the deal limiting Iran's nuclear program.

In the video released by the Navy, the larger IRGC vessel can be seen cutting in front of the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Monomoy (WPB 1326). The 180-foot, twin-hull Iranian ship is called the Shahid Nazeri by the IRGC but referred to as Harth 55 by the U.S.

The Harth 55 can be seen in the video in front of the Monomoy 's bow, which forced the U.S. crew to conduct a defensive maneuver to prevent a collision. U.S. Navy officials reported that three Iranian fast-attack crafts and the Harth 55 moved aggressively around the Monomoy and another Coast Guard cutter, the USCGC Wrangell (WPB-1332), while they were patrolling international waters in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. patrolling was characterized as part of a routine maritime security patrol.

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"The Harth 55 closed aggressively on Wrangell 's bow, resulting in Wrangell maneuvering to avoid collision while sounding five short blasts from the ship's horn," said Fifth Fleet spokeswoman Commander Rebecca Rebarich in a statement.

A similar incident occurred in April 2020. Eleven Iranian gunboats swarmed around six U.S. warships, which resulted in then-President Donald Trump saying he gave instructions to the Navy to open fire on Iranian gunboats "if they harass our ships at sea." Following that warning, Iran unveiled 112 more weaponized speedboats the next month.

At the ceremony to unveil those new vessels, IRGC Navy Commander Admiral Ali Reza Tangsirisaid, "Today we announce that wherever the Americans are, we're right there beside you, and in the near future you will sense us even more."

This latest event marks the first time Harth 55 was used as part of Iran's swarm boat tactics. In the past, only Iran's smaller speedboats were believed to have taken part in harassing maneuvers toward U.S. ships.

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Iran, Russia and China show off their ships in a joint naval drill in the Gulf of Oman

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — China, Iran and Russia have begun a joint naval drill in the Gulf of Oman, a crucial waterway near the mouth of the Persian Gulf, officials said Tuesday.

Footage aired by Chinese state television and a video released by the Russian navy showed the ongoing drill, known as “Marine Security Belt 2024.”

China sent the guided-missile destroyer Urumqi and the guided-missile frigate Linyi to the exercise. Russia’s forces are being led by the Varyag, a Slava-class cruiser.

More than 20 ships, support vessels and combat boats from the three countries, as well as naval helicopters, are involved in the exercise.

A report by Iranian state television quoted the drill’s spokesperson, Adm. Mostafa Tajaddini, as saying the drill will take place in 17,000 square kilometers (6,600 square miles) of water.

Tajaddini added that the three nations’ drill — their fourth since 2019 — was also meant to improve trade, confront “piracy and terrorism, support to humanitarian activities and the exchange of information in the field of rescue,” among other goals.

Iran has stepped up its military cooperation with Beijing and Moscow in response to regional tensions with the United States , including due to supplying military drones to Russia now being used in Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan and South Africa are observers of the drill.

The Gulf of Oman has seen a series of attacks since 2019 that the U.S. has blamed on Iran, as well as ship seizures by Tehran, since the collapse of its nuclear deal with world powers. A fifth of all oil traded passes through the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf’s narrow mouth.

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Israel-Hamas war latest: Hamas number three killed, US says - as video shows anguish after Israel's raid on hospital

The US has said Israel killed Hamas number three Marwan Issa in an operation last week. Meanwhile, the Israeli military claims 20 Hamas fighters were killed and dozens of suspects arrested in a raid on Gaza's al Shifa hospital - which the health ministry described as a war crime.

Tuesday 19 March 2024 10:55, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• US says Hamas number three Marwan Issa killed by Israel
• Alistair Bunkall: Death is a big success for Israel
• IDF soldiers raid al Shifa hospital in Gaza City
• Screams of anguish in video showing aftermath of Israel's raid on hospital
• Several killed as hospital on fire, say Palestinian health officials
• Journalist 'beaten and detained' in raid
• Michael Clarke : Israel under pressure as evidence grows it is committing systematic war crimes
• Watch: Israel films storming of hospital by drone | What video tells us about the raid
• Biden speaks to Israeli PM - their first call in 32 days

That's all for this evening, but we'll be back tomorrow with regular updates and analysis.

Scroll down to read what happened during the day.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has joined those to express their concern about Israel's planned assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Mr Trudeau was speaking with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz on Monday.

A statement from Mr Trudeau's office said he had "shared his concern" around the planned offensive "and the severe humanitarian implications for all civilians taking refuge in the area".

"He underscored the need to increase the volume of life-saving humanitarian aid for civilians and to ensure aid reaches all those in need, safely and without delay."

Christopher Lockyear, from Doctors Without Borders says any attack on Rafah would be "a disaster upon a disaster".

He tells the camera he is travelling through part of Rafah "which is incredibly crowded - we've been moving at a snail's pace for the last 10-15 minutes or so".

"There are people everywhere, there are tents and makeshift shelters to the left and right of me and there are kids literally everywhere, which is a real shock."

Mr Lockyear said: "Clearly any ground invasion into Rafah would be an absolute catastrophe.

"It doesn't bear thinking about."

As we have been reporting today, the situation in Gaza is becoming increasingly desperate, with children now starving to death in the enclave.

The UN has said famine is imminent, and the head of its  Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief body, Martin Griffiths, has condemned world leaders for failing to prevent the current state of affairs.

"Famine is imminent in Gaza," he said.

"More than one million people are at risk because they have been cut off from life-saving aid, markets have collapsed and fields have been destroyed.

"The international community should hang its head in shame for failing to stop this.

"We must flood Gaza with food and other life-saving aid. There is no time to lose.

"I renew my call to the Israeli authorities to allow complete and unfettered access for humanitarian goods.

"We know that once a famine is declared, it is way too late. We also know that, with action and goodwill, it can be averted."

This is footage filmed by a Sky News team near the al Shifa hospital earlier today.

Israel raided the hospital for the second time during the war, accusing Hamas of using it as a base.

Israel said it had killed more than 20 gunmen in the operation.

The hospital was Gaza's largest before the war and is now one of the only healthcare facilities that is even partially operational in the territory's north.

It has also been housing displaced civilians.

Israel's prime minister has agreed to send a team of officials to Washington DC so "an alternative approach" can be discussed with regards to Israel's plans for Rafah.

The news comes from US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who was speaking after a call between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu.

The team will include military intelligence and humanitarian officials but it was not clear when they would travel to the US.

Israel said last weekend that it planned to launch an assault on Rafah, but there is growing concern about the safety of civilians in the city - where more than one million people fled to after being ordered to evacuate other parts of Gaza by Israel.

The call between the two leaders also comes amid US frustration with Israel's conduct during the war, including accusations that it has prevented from getting into the enclave.

Mr Sullivan said a major ground offensive would be a "mistake" and would "further isolate Israel internationally".

Bearing in mind that Rafah is a primary entry point for aid from Egypt and Israel, he said an invasion would also "shut that down or at least put it at grave risk right at the moment when it is sorely needed".

Looking across the rest of Gaza, Mr Sullivan said a "humanitarian crisis" had descended.

"Anarchy reigns in areas that Israel's military has cleared but not stabilised," he said.

The death of Marwan Issa is a big success for Israel, writes  Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall .

First reported a week ago by the Jerusalem Post after an air strike in central Gaza, there was no official confirmation until tonight.

It's unclear why the US confirmed his death before Israel.

Issa is the deputy Commander of Hamas's military wing and would have been involved in the planning of the October 7th attacks. He is normally regarded as the number three in Hamas.

Issa has the nickname "shadow man" for his ability to evade Israeli forces.

The whereabouts of Hamas's leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, remains unknown, likewise Mohammed Deif, the commander of the military wing.

It's thought they might be hiding in the southern city of Rafah, one reason why Israel wants to send ground troops in, though if Issa was located in central Gaza then it's possible others might be there too.

The US says Israel killed Hamas number three Marwan Issa in an operation last week.

Sky News has approached the IDF for confirmation but their response was: "The IDF has no comment on the matter."

When we covered reports of the death on 11 March, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari had said they were awaiting confirmation.

Below is the last-known photo of Issa, taken at a 2015 security conference organised by a Hamas-aligned organisation.

For those following the situation in the Middle East, one of the big questions is when - or if - Israel will launch its assault on Rafah.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during the weekend that the assault was still necessary to "eliminate the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah".

But for those who are trying to arrange aid deliveries - and those who are desperately waiting for them - the lack of certainty is already risking lives.

United Nations humanitarian coordinator Jamie McGoldrick said aid operations in Gaza cannot be planned more than two or three days ahead at the moment because of the instability and uncertainty.

"It would be a really difficult scenario for us to envisage the possibility of hundreds of thousands of people being forced from Rafah because of the incursion.

"We are not in a position to contingency plan that. We're not in a position to pre-position shelter, material, food, medical supplies and especially water... It will be a real problem for us." 

Why does this matter?

It is already extremely difficult to get aid into Gaza due to the security situation and Israeli restrictions.

In desperation, a small group of countries has resorted to dropping aid from the air and deliveries have finally been arriving by sea - but neither of these makes up for the capacity that should be brought in by road.

And, as has been confirmed today, the need is immense - the UN says famine is "imminent" in northern Gaza and people in the rest of the enclave are struggling to access food.

Mr McGoldrick said: "If there was to be an incursion, that (aid) system we have, which is already precarious and intermittent, would then be broken."

Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall  is in Jerusalem and says the US and Israeli leaders would have had a lot to discuss during their 45-minute call.

"We have seen over recent weeks, in the absence of communication between the two leaders, quite a public spat between Israel and Washington, the US president making it very clear that he is not happy with the way that this war is being fought and the lack of humanitarian aid that is getting into Gaza.

"For his part, the Israeli prime minister has been defiant and adamant that Israel will pursue its war aims, specifically, the release of all the hostages and the elimination of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. If that means going into the southern city of Rafah, then that is what the Israelis plan to do."

Over the weekend we learnt that Israel is still planning to push ahead with an assault on Rafah, in Gaza's south.

The US, Israel's staunchest ally, has said it will not support such an operation without the Israelis presenting a credible plan to ensure the safety of civilians.

Bunkall said an assault on Rafah does not seem to be imminent but that the world is "increasingly concerned that Israel is gearing up for it", with all of the humanitarian consequences that could have.

Meanwhile, ceasefire talks have resumed in Qatar, with a senior Israeli delegation flying there today.

"The expectation is that they might take a long time, maybe a couple of weeks if they're going to be successful.

"But Hamas has lowered its demands, Israel is still saying that are being unrealistic in what they are expecting. But there is certainly, it seems, room for negotiation. And as long as that stays the case, then there will remain hope that a new ceasefire deal can be agreed at some point."

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