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From: Navy Times
Navy ships in the Persian Gulf are accompanying U.S.-flagged merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's recent seizure of one cargo ship and its harassment of another in international waters, a defense official has confirmed to Navy Times.
A dozen ships are operating in the area and capable of providing support, the official said on Thursday. U.S. warships frequently transit the strait, but it is more unusual for the U.S. to routinely convoy U.S.-flagged merchants through.
The warships include ships with the Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group, which entered 5th Fleet three weeks ago and spent several days in the waters off Yemen, a show of force that compelled Iranian ships to turn around.
The official was unable to elaborate on tasking for the ships, which include:
Coastal patrol ships Whirlwind, Monsoon, Typhoon, Thunderbolt and Firebolt.
The minesweeper Devastator.
The destroyers Milius, Farragut, Winston S. Churchill and Paul Hamilton.
The cruiser Normandy.
The aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt.
The move, first reported by Defense One, comes as tensions rise in the region, with news that Iranian navy ships harassed one U.S.-flagged shipping vessel in international waters and later boarded a Marshall Islands cargo ship, a country under U.S. protection.
Only a week before, the TR and members of its strike group converged off the coast of Yemen, as rumors swirled that Iranian cargo ships were bringing in weapons to arm the Houthi rebels in their clash against the U.S.-backed Yemeni government.
The Defense Department is not communicating with Iran, and the country's motives are, "not clear to the Department of Defense," Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren told reporters Wednesday.
"It's difficult to know why the Iranians are operating this way," he said said. "We certainly call on them to respect all of the internationally established rules of freedom of navigation, the Law of the Sea, to which they are a signatory, and other established protocols."
http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2015/04/30/navy-persian-gulf-iran-cargo-ships-roosevelt-strike-group/26646393/
Navy ships in the Persian Gulf are accompanying U.S.-flagged merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's recent seizure of one cargo ship and its harassment of another in international waters, a defense official has confirmed to Navy Times.
A dozen ships are operating in the area and capable of providing support, the official said on Thursday. U.S. warships frequently transit the strait, but it is more unusual for the U.S. to routinely convoy U.S.-flagged merchants through.
The warships include ships with the Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group, which entered 5th Fleet three weeks ago and spent several days in the waters off Yemen, a show of force that compelled Iranian ships to turn around.
The official was unable to elaborate on tasking for the ships, which include:
Coastal patrol ships Whirlwind, Monsoon, Typhoon, Thunderbolt and Firebolt.
The minesweeper Devastator.
The destroyers Milius, Farragut, Winston S. Churchill and Paul Hamilton.
The cruiser Normandy.
The aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt.
The move, first reported by Defense One, comes as tensions rise in the region, with news that Iranian navy ships harassed one U.S.-flagged shipping vessel in international waters and later boarded a Marshall Islands cargo ship, a country under U.S. protection.
Only a week before, the TR and members of its strike group converged off the coast of Yemen, as rumors swirled that Iranian cargo ships were bringing in weapons to arm the Houthi rebels in their clash against the U.S.-backed Yemeni government.
The Defense Department is not communicating with Iran, and the country's motives are, "not clear to the Department of Defense," Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren told reporters Wednesday.
"It's difficult to know why the Iranians are operating this way," he said said. "We certainly call on them to respect all of the internationally established rules of freedom of navigation, the Law of the Sea, to which they are a signatory, and other established protocols."
http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2015/04/30/navy-persian-gulf-iran-cargo-ships-roosevelt-strike-group/26646393/
Navy
Iran
Foreign Affairs
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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SNAFU. This issue with Iran has been brewing since 79. It's time it was brought to a final closure.
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PO2 Mark Saffell
Thats not going to happen with this president. Id love to see the orders for the CO's. Id bet they arent even allowed to defend themselves against the Iran Navy
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I don't see how "It's difficult to know why the Iranians are operating this way" as stated by Col. Steven Warren. I mean come on Iran was never friendly to the US even when they were getting arms and weapons from us before. Does anyone really think that things are going to change anytime soon?
Iran is a terrorist nation and I cannot comprehend why our government refuses to accept this fact.
I hope that those ships commanding officers have a clear set of rules of engagement and are not left with their hands tied behind their backs. We do not need another USS STARK (FFG 31) incident. And yes it was Iraq that attacked the Stark but we all know that Iran is bat crap crazy.
Iran is a terrorist nation and I cannot comprehend why our government refuses to accept this fact.
I hope that those ships commanding officers have a clear set of rules of engagement and are not left with their hands tied behind their backs. We do not need another USS STARK (FFG 31) incident. And yes it was Iraq that attacked the Stark but we all know that Iran is bat crap crazy.
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