US, 41 Ally to Conduct Naval Drills in Gulf

Local Editor

The United States and its allies are preparing for naval exercises in the Gulf region that will include minesweeping and escorting commercial ships.

In addition to the Zionist entity, forty countries are taking part in the two-week International Mine Countermeasures Exercise "to practice minesweeping and protecting ports and energy installations in the Gulf."

Vice Admiral John Miller, Commander of the US Naval Forces Central Command, claimed on Monday the annual exercise was an "opportunity to enhance international naval capability to preserve freedom of navigation in international waterways."

"If 41 nations are willing to come here and practice MCM, just imagine how effective the global mine response would be if someone actually put mines in the water," he said.
The phase of the drills staged on water, which begins next week, will involve 35 ships, 18 unmanned underwater vehicles and dozens of underwater explosives disposal divers.

In addition to minesweeping and flying drones, the drills will include oil spill crisis management and protecting offshore terminals that oil and gas exporters rely on.
Meanwhile, the US Navy stressed that the drills are not specifically tailored to face Iran.
This comes as the Islamic Republic threatened more than once to close the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway leading to the Persian Gulf and that is used by 40 percent of vessels that carry the world's oil to various locations around the globe, in case of any attack.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org