Yemen: Iran sends warships to Bab al-Mandab strait under guise of anti-piracy campaign

Iran dispatched a destroyer and a naval ship to the waters off Yemen on Wednesday (8 April), raising the stakes in the conflict two weeks since the Saudi-led coalition began bombing Houthi rebel targets.

The official version issued by the Iranian navy is that the warships were sent to the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait as part of an anti-piracy campaign to "safeguard naval routes for vessels in the region".

Securing navigation in the narrow strait was also a key reason for the Saudi-led air and maritime blockade.

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