US military to boost defenses in Gulf after seizing Iranian tankers
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The U.S. military is working to increase its defensive posture in the Gulf region following the seizure and pursuit of Iranian merchant ships in recent months, U.S. officials said Friday.
Over the past two years, Iran has harassed, attacked or interfered with the navigational rights of 15 flagged merchant vessels, officials said.
“The Department of Defense will continue to take steps to strengthen our defense posture in the Persian Gulf,” White House press secretary John Kirby said at a press conference.
Kirby added that the coming weeks will see an effort to increase “coordination and interoperability” with allies in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, said it was working with regional allies to increase the movement of ships and aircraft patrolling the Strait of Hormuz.
“Iran’s unreasonable, reckless and illegal seizure and harassment of merchant vessels must stop,” US Fifth Fleet commander Vice Admiral Brad Cooper said in a statement.
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