SerpApi.Org
Retired United States Navy Admiral James Stavridis cautioned that America must remain vigilant regarding potential Iranian activities in the Suez Canal as tensions between the two nations flare up once more.
During an appearance with CNN's Jake Tapper, Stavridis highlighted that the canal handles greater traffic volumes than the Strait of Hormuz and noted that "Iranians are beginning to make noises about attempting to close that, using the Houthis in the southwest corner."
The admiral characterized Iran as increasingly "adaptable" in its confrontation with the U.S. and indicated they were monitoring Ukraine's military tactics "very closely".
"They're watching what's happening very closely in Ukraine, or they are kind of playing the part of the Ukrainians, using innovation, using drones, using maneuver, trying to inflict cost on us, the same way the Ukrainians are trying to inflict cost on Vladimir Putin," the former naval commander explained. The ex-officer expressed being "a little bit worried" about the attacks on bases and U.S. service members.
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"Those are vulnerabilities that I think the Iranians would not pause on exploiting," the former admiral warned. Last week, hostilities between the U.S. and Iran reignited following a delicate ceasefire that had held since June.
Since hostilities resumed, two U.S. service members have lost their lives. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the most recent strikes on Saturday were designed to undermine Iran's capacity to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and "punish" the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces responsible for launching missiles and drones against U.S. personnel in Jordan.
The admiral's cautionary statements follow the announcement that the U.S. would be deploying additional fighter jets to Iran as tensions continue to escalate. According to CNN, the U.S. is dispatching further F-16 and F-35 fighter jets from European bases, along with additional aerial refueling tankers.
This development comes amid an exchange of fresh strikes between Washington and Tehran, with Iran recently consolidating its military operations in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan — three nations that are strategically vital as they house U.S. regional military bases.
The redeployment order came before Friday's Iranian assault that claimed the lives of two U.S. service members in Jordan, while a third remains unaccounted for. CENTCOM has confirmed the fatalities took place in Jordan.
Four additional American service members required medical evacuation to Jordanian hospitals, though all have since been discharged.
Strikes from both sides have grown increasingly fierce following the breakdown of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed the previous month. Fresh strikes were carried out across Iran late Sunday night, as confirmed by CENTCOM, marking the ninth consecutive night of American military operations.
Last Tuesday, President Donald Trump attended a Situation Room briefing where military officials outlined potential options for escalating action against Iran aimed at diminishing Tehran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz. Sources indicate Trump is now reconsidering seizing control of Khrag Island, a vital Iranian export terminal, and launching strikes on subterranean facilities at Pickaxe Mountain, suspected of housing elements of Iran's nuclear program.
