Iran has sent a warship into tense waters where the US Navy has been shooting down Houthi threats and destroying their boats

An Iranian warship sailed into the Red Sea Monday, 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 Alborz, 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, US Navy helicopters on Sunday fired on and destroyed three Houthi attack boats attempting to board a Maersk cargo ship. A fourth boat fled the attack.