The United States conducted a cyberattack over a week ago against the Iranian military ship MV Behshad, implicated in intelligence gathering operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, according to an exclusive report by NBC. This cyber offensive was a part of a broader American response to a drone attack by Iranian-backed militias, which resulted in American casualties in Jordan. The targeted cyber operation sought to impair the Behshad’s ability to communicate intelligence to Houthi rebels in Yemen, known for their missile and drone attacks on cargo ships, facilitated by Iranian support.

According to an report we published last week, the MV Behshad, linked to a U.S.-sanctioned Tehran-based company, was believed to be engaged in supporting Houthi rebels through potential arms smuggling and intelligence gathering activities.

The U.S. officials, while confirming the cyberattack, have maintained confidentiality on specific details, reflecting the typically covert nature of such operations. The National Security Council and the Defense Department have both refrained from commenting on the incident.

Iran, through its U.N. ambassador, denies the allegations, asserting that the Behshad’s presence in the Red Sea is to combat piracy and not to aid Houthi forces. However, the vessel’s strategic positioning near Djibouti, in proximity to a Chinese military base, suggests a calculated move to deter any direct U.S. military intervention.