Iran has sent a warship into tense waters where the US Navy has been shooting down Houthi threats and destroying their boats

• An Iranian warship entered the Red Sea a day after US Navy took out three Houthi attack boats.
• Iran-backed Houthi attacks in the Red Sea continue to threaten global commerce.

An Iranian warship sailed into the Red Sea Monday, according to Iranian state media and other reports, risking a potential escalation of tensions in waters where attacks on commercial shipping are becoming frequent and forcing navies to intervene.

The arrival of the Iranian vessel, the frigate Alborz, in the Red Sea comes amid an ongoing conflict that started with Israel and Hamas but has spread to involve the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, among others.

Following weeks of American warships shooting down Houthi threats, such as missiles and drones, US Navy helicopters on Sunday fired on and destroyed three Houthi attack boats attempting to board a Maersk cargo ship. A fourth boat fled the attack.

Maersk has paused sailing through the Red Sea for 48 hours starting Sunday in response to the attack.

The US Navy, along with allies, has been active in the defense of the key shipping corridor. As of Dec. 17, US Navy destroyer USS Carney had neutralized dozens of airborne threats originating from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen since arriving in the area, making the American vessel 36-0 against Houthi rebels.

The Houthi rebel group has been attacking vessels that it says are linked to Israel or headed for the country —regardless of nationality — in a bid to pressure Israel into a ceasefire with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza.

The aggressive Houthi activities in the Red Sea are threatening global commerce and have caused shipping giants like Maersk to look to other waterways and pause transit through the critical trade route.