May 3, 2023

Task Force 51/5 Joint Terminal Attack Controllers increase capability with U.S. Coast Guard, Air Force and Navy partners

Manama, Bahrain – Late last week Naval Amphibious Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Bridge (TF 51/5) Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) embarked on Bahrain-based U.S. Coast Guard fast-response cutters to conduct joint training with both U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force aircraft in the Northern Arabian Gulf. The training involved five U.S. Coast Guard vessels and a group of Marine JTACs who sharpened their tactical skills by controlling U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft.

May 3, 2023

Second Merchant Vessel Seized within a Week by Iran

On May 3 at approximately 6:20 a.m. local time, Panama-flagged oil tanker Niovi was seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

May 2, 2023

U.S. Navy Hosts Qatar’s Top Naval Leader in Bahrain

U.S. 5th Fleet hosted Qatar’s top naval leader May 2 at the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain, marking strengthening ties between U.S. and Qatari maritime forces.

April 28, 2023

VNG begins 20th anniversary celebration of partnership with Tajikistan

RICHMOND, Va.  –  The Virginia National Guard began recognizing its 20th year of partnership with the Republic of Tajikistan March 27, 2023, as VNG senior leaders visited with the Tajikistan Ministry of Defense in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.  During the visit, the VNG team, led by Brig. Gen. James W. Ring, the VNG Director of the Joint Staff, participated in bilateral talks on military to military engagements. The Ministry of Defense also hosted a 20th anniversary celebration, commemorating two decades of partnership supporting the State Partnership Program. 

April 27, 2023

Merchant Vessel Seized by IRGCN in Gulf of Oman

On April 27 at approximately 1:15 p.m. 1ocal time, Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Advantage Sweet was seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) while transiting international waters in the Gulf of Oman. The oil tanker issued a distress call during the seizure. U.S. 5th Fleet is monitoring the situation.

April 24, 2023

9 AF (AFCENT)’s inaugural Innovation Oasis bolsters commitment to Culture of Innovation

A Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, radio frequency transmissions system apprentice won the inaugural AFCENT Innovation Oasis, a Shark-Tank style competition to attain innovative solutions, inventions and ideas, here April 19.

April 24, 2023

Task Force 51/5 Conducts Joint Training with U.S. Army

Earlier this week, Soldiers assigned to Task Force Spartan, U.S. Army Central Command’s Crisis Response Task Force, trained with Marines and Sailors assigned to Naval Amphibious Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade aboard Expeditionary Sea Base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) to better enable crisis response options and joint-service interoperability within United States Central Command...

April 21, 2023

U.S. Navy Ship Patrolling Middle East Seizes $42 Million in Drugs

A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer interdicted a fishing vessel attempting to smuggle $42 million in illegal drugs while transiting the Gulf of Oman, April 21.

April 17, 2023

His Majesty the King of Bahrain Visits U.S. 5th Fleet Headquarters

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited U.S. 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, April 16, 2023.

April 13, 2023

U.S., France, UK Complete Counter-Mine Exercise in Arabian Gulf

Forces from France, the United Kingdom and the United States completed a two-week exercise in the Arabian Gulf, April 13, focused on countering mines.