Jan. 26, 2022

New U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Visit Egypt Marking Arrival to 5th Fleet

MANAMA, Bahrain — MANAMA, Bahrain - Two U.S. Coast Guard fast response cutters stopped in Alexandria, Egypt, for a scheduled port visit Jan 25, marking their arrival to U.S. 5th Fleet after departing Key West, Florida in November.

Jan. 25, 2022

UK Warship interdicts illicit drugs shipment in Gulf of Oman

MANAMA, Bahrain — A United Kingdom Royal Navy frigate seized 1,041 kilograms of illegal drugs while transiting international waters during a counter-narcotics patrol in the Gulf of Oman, Jan. 15. HMS Montrose (F236) was operating as part of an international task force called Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, which has increased regional patrols to locate and disrupt unlawful maritime activity. CTF 150 is one of three task forces under Combined Maritime Forces.

Jan. 23, 2022

U.S. Navy Interdicts Stateless Vessel Previously Caught Smuggling Weapons

Manama Bahrain — On Jan. 18, U.S. 5th Fleet ships interdicted a stateless fishing vessel in the Gulf of Oman that was caught smuggling illicit weapons off the coast of Somalia last year.

Jan. 19, 2022

Iowa Soldiers make history in U.S. Army air defense mission

Al Asad Air Base, Iraq — In the very early morning hours of June 5, 2021, Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery did what they’d done for several months – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – they manned their Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar guns. The Soldiers, deployed to Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq, came from small towns, mostly in northwest and north central Iowa. Members of the Iowa National Guard, and mostly field artillerymen and maintainers, they found themselves deployed to the Middle East to do a completely foreign mission: air defense.

Jan. 18, 2022

Record Seizures in 2021 after NAVCENT and CMF Increase Patrols

MANAMA, Bahrain — Since mid-July, U.S. and international maritime forces under CMF have conducted more than 50 boardings of vessels suspected of smuggling illicit cargo in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, resulting in 14 narcotics seizures and the Dec. 20 weapons seizure. “We have enhanced our presence and vigilance across regional waters,” said Cooper. “This reflects our continued commitment to confront destabilizing activities that disrupt the rules-based international order which underlies maritime security in the Middle East.”

Jan. 9, 2022

USS Lewis B. Puller Credited With Saving Lives of Rescued Mariners

MANAMA, Bahrain — U.S. Navy personnel serving on expeditionary sea base platform ship USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) called upon their training and teamwork recently to save injured mariners in the Gulf of Oman.

Jan. 6, 2022

Wisconsin Guard augments Colorado Guard artillery deployment

MADISON, Wis. — Ten members of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery — a high-mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) unit — trained with the Colorado Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, at Fort Bliss, Texas, before deploying to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

Jan. 5, 2022

Coalition: Iran-backed militia attacks a dangerous distraction from mission

BAGHDAD — Coalition forces were targeted this morning by eight rounds of indirect fire at Green Village, a Syrian Democratic Forces base with a small Coalition advisory presence, in northeast Syria. According to Coalition forces, the attack did not cause any casualties, but several rounds impacted inside the Coalition base and caused minor damage.

Jan. 4, 2022

Marine F/A-18s bring joint-force to PSAB

PRINCE SULTAN AIR BASE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — Marines from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in late December, bringing a full squadron of F/A-18 Hornets. Serving as a strategic operating location, PSAB and the VMFA-115 Silver Eagles fill a mutually beneficial role of countering destabilizing regional activity.

Jan. 1, 2022

Four Suspects Captured After Attack on Shaddadi

SOUTHWEST ASIA — Officials from Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve announced last night that Coalition forces were targeted by indirect fire in areas of northeast Syria. According to the Coalition, rounds did not damage any Coalition areas, but impacted civilian areas near Al Shaddadi.