An Iranian warship has embarked on a mission in oceanic waters, Iran’s state media reported, in the wake of a warning by Houthi militia that it could renew attacks on vessels transiting the region.

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The aircraft carrier Shahid Mahdavi, operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has reached southern hemisphere waters, the semi-official Fars news agency reported, without specifying its exact location.

Fars said the 240-meter-long (787-foot) vessel is on a mission of an undisclosed nature, and referred to its voyage as a milestone, marking the first venture of an Iranian frigate below the equator.

The development closely follows a warning by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen that they could target ships in the eastern Mediterranean, in an apparent move against Israel’s ongoing campaign in Gaza. In February, Iran recalled a flotilla it had sent to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden amid attacks by the Houthis on commercial ship in the region.

The IRGC earlier this year fired long-range ballistic missiles from the carrier during a naval drill. The ship is outfitted with advanced radar and air defense systems, according to Fars.