UK takes charge of coalition Gulf mission to protect ships from Iran

Persian Gulf/SoH

Britain has taken over command from the United States of a maritime security mission in the Gulf to protect global shipping from the threat of attack by Iran.

Royal Navy Commodore James Parkin took charge of the seven-nation coalition on Thursday from US Rear Admiral Alvin Holsey at a ceremony at a US naval base in Bahrain.

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Source: klfm967.co.uk

Philippines: Two kidnapping suspects shot dead

KOTA KINABALU: Two of the six men suspected to have kidnapped five Indonesian fishermen in Malaysian waters earlier this month have been shot dead by Philippine security forces.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Hazani Ghazali said the suspects were killed in a shootout with Philippine security forces two days ago.

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Source: theborneopost.com

No ransom demand from kidnappers of 5 Indonesians, say cops

Sabah

Jason Santos

LAHAD DATU: The captors of the five Indonesian workers off Tambisan waters on Jan 15 have not made any ransom demand, said Sabah police commissioner Omar Mammah.

“Until today, we have not received any demand for ransom money from the kidnappers. We are investigating to find out who the masterminds are,” he said during a visit to the Lahad Datu police headquarters today.

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Source: freemalaysiatoday.com

Sabah, Labuan marine police record success in tackling maritime crimes

MMEA vessel. Image via diabgroup.com

LABUAN: Labuan marine police thwarted smuggling activities with a total seizure worth more than RM17 million last year, compared to RM1.5 million in 2018.

Sabah marine police (Region 4) commander, ACP Mohamad Pajeri Ali said Labuan marine police also foiled several attempts of illegal fishing by foreign fishermen and intrusion by illegal immigrants.

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Source: thesundaily.my

India closely monitors PLA Navy supported Chinese fishing fleet in Indian Ocean

New Delhi [India], Jan 28 (ANI): Indian Navy aircraft spotted the movement of Chinese distant-water fishing fleet supported by the People’s Liberation Army Navy ships, in western Indian Ocean Region, while they were moving towards Morocco in Africa.

The movement of the Chinese vessels and the warships travelling along with them was tracked by the Indian Navy warships and aircraft deployed in that region, Indian Navy sources told ANI.

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Source: in.news.yahoo.com

40 abduction bids foiled in Sabah

LAHAD DATU: Since 2018, security forces have thwarted 40 kidnapping attempts in the waters off seven districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) commander Datuk Hazani Ghazali said this was due to the cooperation between the Royal Malaysian Police, armed forces and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

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Source: nst.com.my

Malaysia shows commitment to security in Sabah waters: Minister

Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamad Sabu has reiterated the country’s commitment to increasing security in the Sulu Sea region following recurring kidnappings of Indonesian fishermen by southern Philippines militant group Abu Sayyaf, inviting all trilateral counterparts — Indonesia and the Philippines — to join the effort.

In a visit to Jakarta on Saturday, the Malaysian politician — better known as Mat Sabu — said Malaysia would increase its efforts and role in the existing trilateral maritime patrols around Sulu and Sabah region, calling on relevant parties to follow suit.

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Source: thejakartapost.com

IRGC-Affiliated Strategist Abbasi: ‘Every Navy Patrol… Should Catch 10-20 Americans’ For Ransom – To Solve Our Economic Problems

IRGC-affiliated strategist Hassan Abbasi said in a video that he uploaded to aparat.com on January 17, 2020 that the IRGC should “generate income” by capturing Americans and demanding a ransom for their return.

Abbasi, who was speaking at the city of Noushahr, gave the example of the $1.7 billion that Iran received for the return of Jason Rezaian and the $3 billion that Iran, he claims, received from Qatar because the aircraft that killed Qassem Soleimani had taken off from Qatar.

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Source: memri.org

Malaysian terror group working with Abu Sayyaf, says deputy home minister

Jason Santos

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman today confirmed that members of a Malaysian terror group are in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf from the southern Philippines.

He said police had first established this in 2018 following the arrests of seven Abu Sayaff men and a Malaysian in separate locations in Putrajaya and places like Tenom, Ranau and Kinarut in Sabah.

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Source: freemalaysiatoday.com

Dutch and Danish frigates to deploy in support of French maritime mission in the Persian Gulf

Persian Gulf/SoH

By Joanne Stocker

The France-led maritime mission to counter Iran in the Strait of Hormuz is set to officially start at the end of the month, the French defense ministry said on Thursday.

The European-led Maritime Awareness mission in the Strait Of Hormuz (EMASOH) is intended to prevent conflicts in the critical entrance to the Persian Gulf, the world’s busiest shipping waterway.

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Source: thedefensepost.com