The United States conducted a cyberattack on an Iranian ship suspected of providing targeting data to Houthi militants attacking merchant shipping near Yemen.
The attack occurred last week after a drone strike at a U.S. base in Jordan left three service members dead.
One U.S. official told NBC News that the Pentagon targeted the computer information systems aboard the MV Behshad, an Iranian military vessel disguised to look like a freighter. The objective was to inhibit the Behshad's alleged intelligence sharing capabilities:
A spokesperson for the National Security Council declined to comment and referred questions to the Defense Department, which also declined to comment.
U.S. officials typically do not disclose covert operations, including cyberattacks, and have not publicly released information about the one involving the suspected Iranian spy ship.
In an interview with NBC News' Lester Holt last week, Iran's U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, said the Behshad is in the Red Sea “to combat the piracy activities” and is not providing intelligence to Houthi forces.
Since January, the Behshad has been operating near the port of Djibouti, close to a Chinese military base on shore, according to ship tracking data. Military analysts say it is possible Iran has chosen to move the ship near the Chinese base to discourage U.S. naval forces from trying to physically attack or board the suspected spy vessel.
In January, two U.S.-flagged merchant ships came under ballistic missile attack after they passed the Behshad. The guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely later intercepted two missiles fired from Houthi territory. Another splashed down at sea.
The failed attack occurred in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. It led to immediate speculation the Behshad had shared targeting information with the Houthis.
Maersk suspended transit through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after repeated attacks on its ships. One company executive told CNBC that the costly reroute around Africa could extend into the second half of this year.
Maersk's U.S. subsidiary has not yet decided to redirect its vessels from the Red Sea trade route.
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