ABU DHABI: The US Navy is leading a 30-nation maritime exercise across Middle Eastern waters, which it says will help protect international trade routes against possible threats, including from Daesh and Al-Qaeda.
The exercise, partly being held in the Arabian Gulf, comes as tensions run high between Gulf Arab countries and Iran over its role in the region, including its support for President Bashar Assad, for the Houthis in Yemen and for Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The International Mine Countermeasures Exercise started with a symposium in Bahrain where the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet is based, in part as a bulwark against Iran.
Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan, commander, US Naval Forces Central Command, said on Saturday the exercise was designed to stop militants from causing disruption to shipping as, “we know that they want to disturb trade lines.”
US Navy leads 30-nation sea drill in Mideast
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