On Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), asserted that Iran is intensifying its efforts to confront Israel and America, aiming to accelerate the downfall of both nations.
Salami proclaimed, “The existence of America and Israel is nearing its end,” emphasizing Iran’s need for support from Muslim nations worldwide to dismantle what he referred to as “free societies.” He warned of the dangers of allowing the enemy to infiltrate Muslim states, stressing the importance of collective action.
According to reports from the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, Salami asserted that Iran, whether through direct government action or support for proxy groups, had obstructed Israel’s access to parts of the Mediterranean Sea.
“We are expanding the battlefield to weaken the enemy,” Salami declared, underscoring the necessity for Muslim nations to confront Israel to protect their interests and identities.
Although specifics regarding the IRGC’s actions to “broaden the battlefront” into the Mediterranean were not clearly outlined, the Iran-linked “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” believed to include members of Iran-backed Shiite militias, claimed responsibility for attacks on Israeli-operated platforms in the Leviathan gas field. These attacks, purportedly conducted via drone strikes, were said to be in solidarity with Gaza.
While Israeli authorities have not confirmed any significant damage resulting from these alleged attacks, they have been extensively covered in Iranian media.
Meanwhile, the Houthi jihadist movement from Yemen announced its intention to extend its operations to the Mediterranean, following a pattern of targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea to disrupt trade with Israel.
“We will target any ships heading to Israeli ports in the Mediterranean Sea in any area we are able to reach,” declared Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree.
In a separate development, the IRGC disclosed that its first warship, the Shahid Mahdavi, had entered the Southern Hemisphere for an undisclosed “long-distance mission,” according to PressTV reports. The vessel, a converted commercial ship now serving military purposes, marks Iran’s expanded naval presence beyond its traditional operating areas.
