Houthis say ready to join Iran war, raising shipping risks

Israel’s military said Behnam Rezaei, head of the IRGC Navy Intelligence Directorate, was killed alongside commander Alireza Tangsiri in a strike in Bandar Abbas.

The military said it had “eliminated senior commanders of the IRGC Navy,” adding that the operation targeted leadership involved in maritime activities.

It said Rezaei had led naval intelligence efforts for years and was responsible for intelligence collection on regional countries and coordination with other intelligence bodies.

Israel’s defence minister had earlier announced Tangsiri’s death, describing him as a key figure in maritime operations.

Israel continues striking targets in Iran “with full force,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, referring to Israel’s killing of Alireza Tangsiri, the naval commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards.

In a brief video message, Netanyahu described Tangsiri as responsible for efforts to close the Strait of Hormuz and called the killing another example of cooperation between Israel and the United States in pursuit of shared war objectives.

“We are continuing to strike, with full force, targets of the Iranian terror regime,” the Israeli premier said. “Last night, we eliminated the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ navy. This individual has a great deal of blood on his hands, and he was also responsible for leading the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday the consequences of the Iran war could be comparable to those of the Covid pandemic.

“The consequences of the conflict in the Middle East are still difficult to accurately predict,” Putin said, adding that some estimates suggest they “can be compared with the coronavirus epidemic.”

He said the conflict was already disrupting global supply chains and putting pressure on energy, metals and fertilizer sectors.

Rahim Nadali, a cultural official with the Guards in Tehran, said an initiative called “For Iran” was recruiting participants to assist with activities such as patrols, checkpoints and logistics.

“Given that the age of those coming forward has dropped and they are asking to take part, we lowered the minimum age to 12,” he said, adding that 12- and 13-year-olds could now take part if they wished.

The comments were broadcast as part of state media coverage of the war effort.

The announcement has revived concerns over the use of minors in security-related roles in Iran.

During the 2022 protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, images shared on social media appeared to show children and teenagers in military-style uniforms and protective gear, drawing criticism from child rights advocates.

The move comes despite Iran’s commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits the use of children in military activities.

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  Over 3 Million Child Laborers in Iran, Activist Warns

Human rights groups have also repeatedly accused Iranian authorities of killing child protesters during past crackdowns. The Center for Human Rights in Iran said security forces killed more than 200 children during a wave of protests in early 2026.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also documented cases of children being shot, detained and abused during demonstrations, saying government forces have used lethal force against minors in violation of international law.

A local police commander said six Starlink devices were seized and six people detained following searches carried out with judicial approval.

Authorities accused the suspects of trading access to the service, sharing information with foreign-based outlets and engaging in activities deemed hostile. The individuals were referred to prosecutors, police said.

The move comes amid a broader wave of arrests across Iran, with authorities detaining dozens in recent days on security-related charges, including alleged links to militant activity, contacts with foreign media and online activity. Officials have also reported seizing weapons, explosives and Starlink devices in multiple provinces.

Starlink is banned in Iran, where authorities have imposed a near-total internet blackout during the war. Monitoring group NetBlocks says connectivity has dropped to around 1% of normal levels, leaving satellite services among the few ways to access the global internet.