The US Navy will continue defending the free flow of commerce in regional waterways with the help of its trusted allies, a top US Navy Commander has pledged.
Outgoing Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Brad Cooper pointed out that more than 80 armed drones had been shot down in the past two months in the Red Sea.
Members of Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have stepped up attacks on vessels transiting the Red Sea to show their support for Hamas in its conflict with Israel.
The route is used by ships to access Egypt’s Suez Canal – a major shortcut linking the Mediterranean and Asia without the need to travel around Africa – to transport natural gas, consumer goods, electrical goods and food and drink.
Vice Adm Cooper was speaking to the GDN on the sidelines of a change of command ceremony of the Middle East naval forces held at the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Juffair yesterday.
The time-honoured ceremony marked Vice Adm George Wikoff assuming command of the US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), Fifth Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC).
“First, I would like to say a special thanks to His Majesty King Hamad and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their leadership, bold vision and courage to set the foundation for the largest maritime partnership in the world (Combined Maritime Forces),” said Vice Adm Cooper.
“Today, we’re certainly seeing challenging times.
“We’re ready along with our partners and continue with our operations in the Southern Red Sea.
“We are committed to the free flow of commerce and that is just not talk because in the last two months we have shot down more than 80 drones.”
The Houthis have targeted cargo and US Navy ships and in recent weeks have fired anti-ship cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles and anti-ship ballistic missiles forcing the US and its allies, including the UK, to conduct strikes last month on eight targets.
These strikes are intended to degrade Houthis’ capability to continue their reckless and unlawful attacks on US and UK ships as well as international commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Bab Al Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden.
“We’re targeting missiles and drones in western Yemen in the Houthi-controlled territory that are targeting our vessels as well as innocent merchant shipping,” added Vice Adm Cooper.
“We are also attempting to seize and interdict the weapons that are going from Iran to Yemen.”
Three US servicemen were killed and more than 40 injured last month following a drone attack on a US service base on the Jordan-Syria border – the first since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted in October last year.
US President Joe Biden blamed radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq for the attack and vowed to fight back.
Responding to this Vice Adm Cooper reiterated the US senior leadership’s statement that those responsible will be held accountable at “a time and in a manner of our choosing”.
Vice Adm Cooper, who assumed command in May 2021, led more than 16,000 sailors, marines, coastguardsmen and civilians.
As CMF commander, he oversaw a 41-nation maritime partnership in one of the world’s most diverse and challenging area of operations.
CMF task forces provided maritime security, conducted counter piracy and counter terrorism operations and combat illegal drug smuggling, confiscating more than $1.4 billion in narcotics during his tour of duty.
He also established the first naval unmanned and artificial intelligence task force, Task Force 59, based in Bahrain.
During his term, TF 59 went from experimentation to operations, including the first use of weapons aboard an unmanned platform.
The first-of-its-kind task force was commissioned in 2021 which integrates new unmanned systems and artificial intelligence (AI) into naval operations across the Middle East.
The digital ocean drive using TF59 replaces the traditional naval operations of deploying an aircraft carrier with thousands of sailors on board with a well-equipped sea drone that can patrol for days and transmit live imagery or unusual movements to the headquarters.
“Before I arrived here, the idea was that working with drones on water was something that would happen only in 2035 because it was futuristic,” added Vice Adm Cooper.
“I can tell you it’s a reality today as unmanned vessels work closely with cruise ships thanks to the efforts of TF 59 and our partners; the first to join was Bahrain.”
Vice Adm Cooper’s next assignment is as US Central Command (Centcom) Deputy Commander.
Meanwhile, present at the change of command ceremony was Centcom commander Army General Michael “Erik” Kurilla who highlighted Vice Adm Cooper’s accomplishments while in command, noting the importance of people at the heart of his success in ensuring maritime security.
“His investment in our people, our partners and to developing innovative approaches has truly made a difference in Fifth Fleet and across the Central Region,” he said.
In addition, Vice Adm Wikoff, a native of New Brunswick, New Jersey is a top gun aviator and commanded different US Naval assets and departments including the Centcom as chief of staff and maritime operations centre director in Bahrain between 2015 to 2017.
“I am particularly excited to lead our like-minded partners in the CMF with whom the US stands shoulder-to-shoulder in the defence of Freedom of Navigation and Rules-Based International Order,” said Vice Adm Wikoff.
sandy@gdnmedia.bh
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