Iran Quds Force commander warns of wider regional escalation

IRGC Quds Force commander Esmail Qa’ani has warned that continued Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon could trigger broader responses from Iran-aligned groups across the region.

Qa’ani said Israeli “aggression” in both territories supported by the United States, would strengthen what he called the “Axis of Resistance” and prompt greater coordination among allied groups, including the activation of additional fronts, Iran International reports.

He also referred to potential consequences for regional maritime security, warning of what he called the “equalisation” of conditions in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that disruptions in one strategic waterway could be mirrored in the other.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, and the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil shipments pass, are among the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints for energy trade and international shipping.

By Sabina Mammadli