US naval forces operating from Bahrain have started escorting American-flagged vessels in the region, following escalations at sea by Iran.
The Fifth Fleet in Juffair is working with Bahrain and other members of the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia and the UK, to increase surveillance and protect shipping of partner nations.
Britain is already escorting UK-flagged merchant ships due to fears of possible attack by Iran.
“The United States believes that the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce are important principles based upon international law that should be preserved by a collective effort of the international community,” said Fifth Fleet public affairs officer Commander Joshua Frey.
He said the IMSC was working to ensure maritime security and further protect US interests in the region.
“The IMSC is active and engaged in this vital mission with each partner nation determining their own level of participation,” he added.
“As a part of the IMSC and beyond, the US Navy has and will continue to protect US forces and interests in the region.
Threats
“This includes routine escorting of US-flagged vessels transiting through the region based upon regional conditions and assessed threats.”
Commander Frey also said that US naval forces had increased maritime surveillance following the drone attacks in Saudi.
“As we join together with other concerned nations, our posture and patrols increase our surveillance of the maritime transit lanes – it is purely preventive and defensive in nature – non-provocative and de-escalatory,” he said.
“With that said, recent aggressive attacks on Saudi infrastructure and international tankers at sea provide great impetus for all forces in this region to be prepared to defend themselves.”
Fifth Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Jim Malloy last week said Iran maintained a threatening military posture in the region following the September 14 attack on Saudi Arabia.
The drone and cruise missile strikes on two Saudi Aramco facilities, in Abqaiq and Khurais, have been blamed on Iran.
Meanwhile, UK media outlets have reported that a British special forces unit is now in Bahrain, due to threats of an Iranian proxy attack on UK assets.
The reports stated the team will work with Bahrain’s Special Security Force Command, an elite counter-terror unit, to ensure security at the British Embassy and a UK Royal Navy facility in Juffair.
However, a spokesman for the UK Maritime Component Command (UKMCC) in Bahrain declined to be drawn on the reports when contacted by the GDN.
He said he could not “comment on matters relating to special forces”, while the British Embassy did not comment.
Drones
British officials said last month that the UK’s Royal Air Force already had a number of Reaper drones based in nearby Kuwait to support surveillance operations.
Tensions between the UK and Iran escalated after Britain detained an Iranian tanker off the territory of Gibraltar in July.
Two weeks later the British-flagged Stena Impero was seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz.
That followed attacks in May and June on other merchant vessels in Gulf waters, which the US blamed on Iran, a charge Tehran denied.
The IRGC also seized another vessel in the Gulf two weeks ago for allegedly smuggling 250,000 litres of diesel to the UAE.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
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