ABU DHABI — A U.S. naval carrier group, reportedly accompanied by at least one Israeli vessel, passed through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea and toward the Gulf on June 18.
Officials said the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, accompanied
by a German Navy vessel, was assigned to rotate forces in support of U.S.
military operations in Iraq and the surrounding region.
Officials said the carrier group, with Egyptian approval, completed its journey through the Suez
Canal on June 18. The group included an aircraft carrier, guided missile
cruiser, Aegis-class destroyers and the German frigate FGS Hessen, Middle East Newsline reported.
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On June 19, the London-based Al Quds Al Arabi reported that two Israel
Navy vessels accompanied the U.S. carrier group through the canal. In a June
21 statement, the U.S. Navy did not cite Israeli participation.
"I am very proud of the men and women of the Truman Carrier Strike Group
as we join the Fifth Fleet," Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, commander of
Carrier Strike Group 10, said.
"We have trained hard to support our troops on the ground in Afghanistan
and we look forward to working with our regional maritime partners to
enhance interoperability and security," Driscoll said.
Officials said the U.S. passage through the Suez marked a major security
and safety effort. They said the Egyptian military facilitated the voyage of
the carrier group without incident.
"I was surprised by how close we were to land," Jason Kowalski, a sailor
aboard Truman, said.