ABU DHABI — The U.S. Navy has deployed two minesweepers in
the Gulf to prevent Iranian attempts to block the Straits of Hormuz.
Officials said the Navy reshuffled its minesweeper fleet to help protect
commercial shipping in the Gulf, Middle East Newsline reported.
"The presence of the minesweeper was a long-scheduled event that is not
part of any military build-up in the Arabian Gulf," U.S. Fifth Fleet
spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Charles Brown said.
Brown said the two latest vessels were replacing two recently
decommissioned coastal mine hunters. He said the deployment was not aimed
against Iran.
One of the vessels was identified as the
USS Gladiator.
So far, the U.S. Navy has deployed four mine hunters in the Gulf.
The 1,300-ton Gladiator arrived in Bahrain on Jan. 23 and joined the USS
Dextrous and USS Ardent.
The navy also plans to deploy an additional aircraft carrier strike
group in the Gulf. The John C. Stennis, a Nimitz-class carrier supported by
four vessels, was meant to arrive in the region in February.
Officials said this would be the first time since 2003 that the U.S.
Navy deployed two aircraft carrier groups in the Gulf. They said the naval
build-up was meant to bolster deterrence toward Iran.
U.S. allies in the Gulf have been reassured that the build-up would not
lead to war against Iran. On Jan. 23, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon
England held talks in Bahrain and met U.S. commanders at the headquarters of
the Fifth Fleet.
"This is a very important place for America here in Bahrain," England
said. "It's important to have our Fifth Fleet stationed here because it
gives us access to this part of the world. It's terrific to have a homeport
with an ally."
"We work closely with regional partners to provide security from mines
in international waters so all commercial shipping can operate safely while
transiting the region," Brown said.
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