 Military tensions are increasing in the Red Sea, U.S. and Iranian ships are facing each other. An Iranian warship sailed into the Red Sea through the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait. 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 Al-Borz, 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, U.S. Navy helicopters last Sunday fired on and destroyed three Houthi attack boats attempting to board a Maersk cargo ship. The Red Sea clash was the first major direct military engagement between the U.S. military and Houthi fighters. The U.S. Navy, along with allies, has been active in the defense of the key shipping corridor. As of December 17, U.S. Navy destroyer USS Karni 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. Iran has rejected U.S. and British calls to end its support for attacks by Houthi rebels on Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea and claimed the accusations were baseless interference as its Navy dispatched a destroyer to the vital shipping lane.