Iran vows to target U.S. warships if security threatened

Iranian Navy ships in Velayat-90 military exercise, by Mohammad Sadegh Heydari via Wikipedia

TEHRAN, April 23 (Xinhua) — Iran will target the U.S. military vessels in the Gulf if they threaten Iran’s security, the chief commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Thursday, Tasnim news agency reported.

“We are fully determined and serious in defending our national security, maritime borders, maritime interests, maritime security and security of our forces at sea and any (wrong) move will trigger our decisive, effective and prompt response,” Hossein Salami said.

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Source: china.org.cn

Donald Trump instructs Navy to ‘destroy’ Iranian gunboats harassing US ships

Taylor Heyman

The US Navy has been instructed to “shoot down and destroy” Iranian gunboats if they harass its ships, US President Donald Trump said.

Mr Trump’s order followed a US accusation last week that Iranian fast vessels were “harassing” US Navy ships in the Arabian Gulf.

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Source: thenational.ae

Covid-19: Indian Navy remains ‘combat ready’ despite spread of coronavirus

The Indian Navy (IN) has emphasised that it remains “combat-ready, mission-capable, and in full readiness”, after 26 of its personnel were quarantined after testing positive for Covid-19 coronavirus.

“All missions for coastal and offshore security continue as before. Operational units are being maintained in readiness by following a 14-day quarantine routine to meet immediate contingencies, including assistance to civil authorities and friendly maritime neighbours, said India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) on 18 April. “Our naval assets continue to be mission-deployed in three dimensions, with all the networks and space assets functioning optimally,” it added.

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Source: janes.com

Iran will give a decisive response to any “mistake” by the U.S. in the Gulf- Revolutionary Guards navy

Iran will give a decisive response to any mistake by the United States in the Gulf, the Revolutionary Guards navy said in a statement published on the Guards’ news site Sepah News.

The U.S. military said on Wednesday that 11 vessels from the Revolutionary Guards navy had come dangerously close to U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships in the Gulf, calling the moves “dangerous and provocative”.

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Source: yahoo.com

Iranian vessels come close to U.S. military ships

Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Eleven vessels from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) came dangerously close to U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships in the Gulf, the U.S. military said on Wednesday, calling the moves “dangerous and provocative.”

While such interactions had occurred occasionally a few years ago, they had stopped, and this incident comes at a time of increased tensions between the two countries.

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Source: reuters.com

UKMTO: Vessel boarded by armed men in Gulf of Oman

Boarded – UKMTO-IO #112

Date: 14th April 2020

Location: 254800N, 0571400E

ADVISORY NOTICE 001/APR/2020 – UPDATE Reference Incident #112 The vessel previously reported has now been released and is now under the control of the Master. Vessel and crew are safe. All vessels in the vicinity are to stay vigilant and to report any incidents to UKMTO ADVISORY NOTICE 001/APR/2020 UKMTO was advised on 14th Apr 2020 at 1228UTC that a vessel had been boarded by armed men, while at anchor in position 25-41N 056-59E. The vessel is now reported to be at anchor approx. 3nm of Ras Al Kuh, in vicinity of 25-48N 057-14E. UKMTO is continuing to monitor the situation All vessels in the vicinity are to stay vigilant and to report any incidents to UKMTO VESSELS TRANSITING THE AREA ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION

Source: ukmto.org

Seoul exploring own way to contribute security in Hormuz

By Jung Da-min

Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min said Thursday that the government could seek its own way to protect the lives and properties of Koreans in the Strait of Hormuz rather than participating in a U.S.-led naval coalition policing the region.

His remarks came amid Washington’s increasing pressure on Seoul to participate in the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), a coalition of countries including the United States, Saudi Arabia, the U.K. and Bahrain sending naval units to the area to safeguard navigation.

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Source: koreatimes.co.kr

New Red Sea alliance borne out of urgent necessity

Albadr Alshateri

The Red Sea has been attracting an increasing amount of attention from Gulf states in recent years. Saudi Arabia and the UAE offered $3 billion in aid to Sudan following the ouster of former dictator Omar Al Bashir, and some states have intervened as part of the Combined Task Force off the coast of Somalia to help combat piracy in the area. Also just last week, this trend culminated in the creation of a special council for Arab and African nations bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, at a conference held in Riyadh this month.

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Source: thenational.ae

Russia-Japan Anti-Piracy Naval Drills To Be Held In Gulf Of Aden In Late January

EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation ATALANTA's ESPS Canarias towed the vessel belonging to Somali Navy personnel back to the Somali shore.

Umer Jamshaid

Russian-Japanese anti-piracy naval exercises in the Gulf of Aden will take place in late January, and will involve, for the first time, a task force from Russia‘s Baltic Fleet, Admiral Alexander Nosatov, the commander of the Baltic Fleet, said Monday.

“The ships of the Baltic Fleet took part in similar exercises with other countries, but never with the Japanese Navy … Anti-piracy exercises are upcoming, they will start sometime after the 20th of January, the planning stage is underway,” Nosatov told reporters.

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Source: urdupoint.com

JMSDF despatches two P-3C MPAs to Middle East on intelligence-gathering mission

Gabriel Dominguez

Amid tensions between Washington and Tehran, Tokyo despatched two P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to the Middle East on 11 January to carry out intelligence-gathering operations in the region aimed at helping ensure the safety of vessels conducting commercial operations with Japan.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) mission, which was approved by the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on 27 December 2019, will also include the deployment to the region of Takanami-class destroyer JS Takanami , which is due to leave the Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo on 2 February.

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Source: janes.com