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☆ US expected to reduce forces near to Middle East by removing Marine rapid response force from Mediterranean Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A Marine rapid response force is expected to leave the eastern Mediterranean Sea in the coming weeks and return to the United States, according to two defense officials, in a significant reduction of US forces in the region. The Marine rapid response force first deployed in July and was sent to the region in October. It had previously been extended to remain in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, as CNN reported. The US has maintained an aircraft carrier or amphibious assault ship in the eastern Mediterranean Sea since shortly after the October 7 attacks in Israel. The Ford carrier strike group, which had been extended several times, left the eastern Mediterranean Sea in early-January, replaced by the Bataan amphibious ready group and the Marine rapid response force.

Persons: “, hasn’t, ”, Sabrina Singh, Dwight D, Lloyd Austin, Gerald R Organizations: CNN, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Pentagon, Marines, MEU, Eisenhower, Red Sea, Navy, Ford, US, Bataan Locations: United States, Bataan, Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Red, Yemen, Gulf, Oman, Lebanese

Maxar Technologies Visual Investigations The $2.8 Billion Hole in U.S. Sanctions on Iran A Times investigation reveals how lax government oversight allowed shadowy oil tankers, covered by American insurance, to fund Iran’s regime. The American Club is one of only 12 major insurers of its kind, and the only one based in the United States. By then, the tankers had transported at least $2.8 billion in crude oil, based on the lowest reported prices of Iranian oil in 2023. The Treasury office has publicly enforced sanctions on the American Club only once in the past 20 years. Ultimately, the office said the American Club did “not appear to have been willful or reckless” and the case was settled.

Persons: Biden, ”, penna gabrielle toyomi, penna selene gabrielle, gabrielle, selene, lisa marianne selene, Samir Madani, Maggie Hassan, Daniel Tadros, “, Mr, Tadros, Shipowners, ” Mr, Madani of TankerTrackers.com, David Tannenbaum Organizations: Maxar, Maxar Technologies, Sanctions, U.S, White, New York Times, Times, Treasury Department, American Club, Treasury, cathay kirin, Copernicus, Planet Labs, Star, American, The Times, Revolutionary Guards Corps, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Club’s, Hamas, Bloomberg, United Against Nuclear, Nuclear, Glory, United, National Iranian Tanker, Labs, Copernicus Sentinel, Club, International Maritime Organization, AIS, Spire Locations: Gulf of Oman, American, U.S, Iran, New York, New Hampshire, United States, Hong Kong, Kharg, Kpler, China, Israel, Yemen, United Against Nuclear Iran, Nuclear Iran, United Arab Emirates, Asaluyeh, Dubai, of Oman, Persian, Oman, Cuba, Sudan, MarineTraffic, SynMax, TankerTrackers.com

☆ US air strikes on Yemen have cut off key supply lines from Iran to the Houthis: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US and UK launched strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen last week. They cut off key supply lines from Iran to Yemen, Western officials told Bloomberg. AdvertisementThe US and UK air strikes have cut off key supply lines from Iran to the Houthis in Yemen, Bloomberg reported, citing Western officials. The report referred to the US and the UK strikes on January 9 and January 11. The US and its allies have been engaged in yearslong efforts to stop Iran from supplying weapons to Houthi fighters in Yemen .

Persons: —, Diamond, CENTCOM, Iran hasn't, Mark Cancian Organizations: US, Bloomberg, Service, Western, Business, US Central Command, US Navy, US Marine, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Yemen, Iran, Gulf of Oman

☆ 2 US Navy SEALS lost at sea were part of a long struggle to stop Iran smuggling deadly weapons to its allies
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

They were helping seize Iranian weapons being sent to the Houthis in Yemen, CENTCOM said. The US Navy and its allies have made attempts to shut down this flow of weapons in the past. Advertisement"One of the main problems with the Red Sea in the Gulf of Aden is the type of states that surround them — Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, and Sudan," Inglis told BI. Inglis predicts there will now be other such operations, with the US Navy targeting more vessels smuggling weapons. AdvertisementBut, he said, "Iran will continue sending weapons to them in the same way that the Soviet Union did to Cuba in the 1960s."

Persons: CENTCOM, —, Michael Erik Kurilla, Mark Cancian, Richard Kouyoumdjian Inglis, Inglis Organizations: Navy, Service, US Central Command, US Marine, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US Navy, Chilean Naval Reserve, Middle East Institute Locations: Somalia, Yemen, Iran, Gulf of Oman, Gulf, Aden, Ethiopia, Sudan, Israel, Soviet Union, Cuba

☆ Oil prices rise as US-led strikes in Yemen raise fears of wider conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —US-led airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen rattled energy markets on Friday, sending oil prices sharply higher. Oil prices rose sharply after US-led strikes on multiple Houthi targets in Yemen in response to repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Another concern is that oil facilities in Saudi Arabia could get hit by a retaliatory strike from the Houthis. In 2019, roughly 5% of world oil supply was briefly knocked offline in a large-scale drone attack on Saudi oil facilities. Despite Friday’s gains, oil prices remain lower than where they were before the October 7 attacks by Hamas against Israel due to concerns about oversupply.

Persons: Brent, “, ”, Robert Yawger, ” Yawger, John Kirby, CNN’s Becky Anderson, ” Kirby, ” Matt Smith, ” Helima Croft, Croft, ” Croft Organizations: New, New York CNN, Mizuho Securities, White House National Security Council, RBC Capital Markets, CIA Locations: New York, Yemen, East, Red, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Gulf of Oman, Hormuz

The warning came as Yemen’s Houthis vowed retaliation, further raising the prospect of a wider conflict in a region already beset by Israel's war in Gaza. The U.S.-led bombardment came in response to a recent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the vital Red Sea. Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israel's offensive in Gaza against Hamas. The Houthis’ military spokesman, Brig. Tesla, meanwhile, said it would temporarily halt most production at its German factory because of attacks in the Red Sea.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ”, Yemen’s Houthis, “, " Biden, Lloyd Austin, Donald Trump Lt, Douglas Sims, Yahya Saree, Nikolas, Iran’s, Hussein, George W, Bush, Friday's, Nasser Kanaani, Vassily Nebenzia, Linda Thomas, Ambassador Barbara Woodward, Thomas, Greenfield, ” ___ Gambrell, Ahmed Al, Haj, Bassem, Jill Lawless, Nasser Karimi, Fatima Hussein, Ellen Knickmeyer, Chris Megerian, Seung Min Kim, Edith M, Lederer Organizations: WASHINGTON, Britain, Associated Press, U.S . Central Command, Navy, White, Camp, U.S . Navy, Republicans, Pentagon, Joint Chiefs of Staff, . Air Forces Central Command, Tomahawk, Foreign Ministry, Brent, Food, U.S, U.S ., United Arab Emirates, . Security, Ambassador, United Nations Locations: Yemen, U.S, Sanaa, Iran, Aden, Gaza . U.S, Houthi, Gen, Red, Gaza, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, United Kingdom, Bani, Abbs, Gulf of Oman, Tehran, Washington, Suez, America, Britain, Houthis, Greenfield, U.K, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Beirut, London, Emmaus , Pennsylvania

☆ Iran seizes oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Mostafa Salem | Adam Pourahmadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Abu Dhabi CNN —Iran has seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman and is transferring it to an Iranian port in retaliation for the United States confiscating the same vessel and its oil last year, Tasnim News Agency reported Thursday. The Strait of Hormuz at the northern end of the Gulf of Oman is the biggest oil chokepoint in the world. A maritime monitoring website, Tanker Trackers, said the vessel seized Thursday was a Marshall Islands-flagged crude oil tanker named St Nikolas, formerly known as the Suez Rajan. Almost 1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil were seized by the US government at the time, the DOJ said. The Suez Rajan transported the contraband to the United States and “incurred the significant expenses associated with the vessel’s voyage to the United States,” according to the DOJ.

Persons: St Nicholas, ”, UKMTO, Nikolas, Suez Rajan, “ Organizations: Abu Dhabi CNN, Tasnim News Agency, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Navy, United Nations, CNN, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, ship’s Company, Oil, Tanker, US Department of Justice, DOJ, Emergency Economic, Navigation Locations: Abu Dhabi, Iran, Gulf of Oman, Iranian, United States, Oman, Islamic Republic, Gulf, Yemen, Gaza, Africa, Israel, Hormuz, Marshall, Suez, China

☆ How the Red Sea crisis could clobber the global economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The Suez Canal accounts for 10-15% of world trade, which includes oil exports, and for 30% of global container shipping volumes. Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc told the Financial Times Thursday that re-establishing safe passage through the Red Sea could take “months.” “It could potentially have quite significant consequences on global (economic) growth,” he added. Ikea has warned of shipment delays and potential shortages of certain products due to disruption in the Red Sea. Some ocean carriers that ordinarily transit through the Panama Canal had rerouted to the Suez Canal before the attacks in the Red Sea escalated, according to logistics company C.H. Matthew Burgess, vice-president of global ocean services at the firm, said global shipping capacity would be constrained for a while yet.

Persons: Joe Biden, Vincent Clerc, Germany’s, Mohamed, El Erian, ” Simon MacAdam, Lily Millard, Ben May, Good Hope, ”, ” It’s, Abercrombie &, Nathan Howard, “, ” Philip Damas, —, Judah Levine, Levine, Eric Thayer, Carolina Klint, Marsh McLennan, Robinson, Matthew Burgess, we’ve, Gene Seroka, Burgess, C.H Organizations: London CNN, British, Energy, World Bank, Maersk, MSC, Lloyd, CMA CGM, Financial Times, Global, Germany’s Kiel Institute, Allianz, Bank, Capital Economics, Oxford Economics, European Automobile Manufacturers ’ Association, Ikea, CNN, Abercrombie, Abercrombie & Fitch, Bloomberg, Getty, Drewry Supply Chain Advisors, Marsh, United, Port Locations: Iran, Crocs, Suez, Yemen, Gaza, Germany, Brent, Gulf, Oman, South Africa, Germany’s Kiel, Red, Israel, Good, Europe, ”, China, Asia, Los Angeles, United States, Panama, Rotterdam, of Los Angeles, of New York, New Jersey

☆ Fact Check: Image does not show Israeli-managed ship attacked in the Indian Ocean
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Malta-flagged container ship attacked in November is managed by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), which is in turn controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. The same image can be seen in a Reuters report (photograph 8/19) (archived) about the incident dated Jun. Another photo of the ship on fire, captured from a different angle, was also published by Reuters (archived) in 2019. At the time, the U.S. blamed the incident (archived) and an explosion aboard a second tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Iran, which denied the allegations. The ship image dates to 2019 and is unrelated to the Nov. 24, 2023, attack on the Mayet.

Persons: Idan Ofer, Read Organizations: Eastern Pacific Shipping, CMA, Reuters, U.S, Galaxy Leader, Facebook, Twitter, Iranian Students ’ News Agency, Thomson Locations: Norwegian, Gulf of Oman, Malta, Singapore, Iranian, Israel, Red, ISRAELI, U.S, Iran

Heavy fighting broke out around the Indonesian Hospital, which has housed thousands of patients and displaced people for weeks. More than 250 patients with severely infected wounds or other urgent conditions remain stranded at Shifa Hospital days after Israeli forces entered the compound. Four other babies died in the two days before the evacuation on Sunday, according to Mohamed Zaqout, the director of Gaza hospitals. NETANYAHU EXTENDS CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR’S TERMTEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has decided to grant the country’s central bank chief a second term. Jordan will build the hospital in southern Gaza to help with the territory's health crisis.

Persons: Yemen’s, Egypt’s, ”, Mohamed Zaqout, “, Hirokazu Matsuno, Yemen’s Houthi, Abraham Ungar, Ungar, Matsuno, NYK, BILL, Itamar Ben, ” Gil Dikman, Gvir, Ophir Katz, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, NETANYAHU, Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir Yaron, Yaron, Bezalel Smotrich, Israel —, Gila Gamliel, Gamliel, Israel’s, Gamliel’s, GAZA KHAN YOUNIS, JERUSALEM —, Elad Aderi, Aderi Organizations: Health Ministry, Indonesian Hospital, World Health Organization, Shifa, West Bank, Israel’s, Palestinian, Crescent, Galaxy Leader, Ray Car Carriers, Associated Press, Houthi, Galaxy Maritime Ltd, British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, Israel Defense Forces, Firefighters, National, National Security, CENTRAL BANK, Gov, Finance, BE, Intelligence, Jerusalem Post, Palestinian Authority, Street Journal, Monday, Israel Democracy Institute Locations: Gaza, Gaza City, Israel, Gaza's, China, Pakistan, israel, EGYPT, Gaza’s, Egypt, Palestinian, JAPAN, Japan, Iran, Bahamas, Philippines, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Mexico, Romania, Gulf of Oman, Saudi Arabia, Oman, India, Hodeida, British, ISRAEL, Lebanon, Biranit, JERUSALEM, Israel’s, TEL AVIV, Israeli, GAZA, Jerusalem, United States, U.S, JORDANIAN, Jordanian, Rafah, Jordan

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel said Yemen's Houthi rebels seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship in a crucial Red Sea shipping route on Sunday, raising fears that regional tensions heightened over the Israel-Hamas war were playing out on a new maritime front. There was no immediate comment from the Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel movement in Yemen that threatened earlier Sunday to target Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea. Netanyahu's office condemned the seizure of the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier, as an “Iranian act of terror." The Israeli military called the hijacking a “very grave incident of global consequence." The Houthis have repeatedly threatened to target Israeli ships in the waters off Yemen.

Persons: — Israel, Yemen's Houthi, Houthi, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Abraham “ Rami ” Ungar, Ungar, ___ Gambrell Organizations: JERUSALEM, Galaxy Leader, Ray Car Carriers, Associated Press, AP, AIS, Ships, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, U.S . Navy, Hamas Locations: Israel, Iran, Yemen, Red, Bahamas, British, Gulf of Oman, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Korfez, Turkey, Pipavav, India, Persian, Yemen’s, Hodeida, Eritrea, The, Egypt’s Suez, Mandeb, Africa, Gaza, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

☆ Video shows a US Navy drone boat firing off its own exploding drone in the Middle East, a first for the unmanned vessels
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The US Navy said its drone boats fired lethal weaponry for the first time in the Middle East. Footage of one of the engagements shows Navy personnel operating the drone boat in the open waters. The USV then fires one of the munitions, which includes a first-person view of its trajectory into the simulated target, causing it to detonate on impact. Navy officials said the exercise was designed to advance the lethality and combat potential of drone boats, and future events could broaden the arsenal of these unmanned systems. Beyond drone boats, the Pentagon has taken other measures in recent months to boost deterrence in the region like dispatching an assortment of fighter jets and warships to the area.

Persons: —, Ray USV, Devil Ray, NAVCENT, Brad Cooper, Cmdr, Dre Johnson, Jonathan Nye, Justin Stumberg Organizations: US Navy, Navy, Service, US Naval Forces Central Command, . Naval Forces Central Command’s, Digital, Missile System, U.S . Naval Forces Central Command’s, Mass, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, Pentagon Locations: Arabian, U.S, Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Persian, Iran, American

☆ Tuberville says he won’t relent on holds despite Israel’s war, claims he’s not hurting military readiness
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Sam Fossum | Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

… If you change the rules of the Senate then it lasts forever,” Tuberville told CNN’s Manu Raju. The bloc of nominees wouldn’t include some higher-level military promotions, which senators would still want to confirm one at a time. The proposal could go to the Senate Rules Committee as soon as this week, a source told CNN Thursday. Tuberville also said that he has had little or no interaction with the White House about the possibility of finding a solution. You know this is not a negotiating crowd over in the White House,” Tuberville said.

Persons: Republican Sen, Tommy Tuberville, ” Tuberville, CNN’s Manu Raju, “, Tuberville, Roe, Wade, I’ve, it’s, ”, Carlos Del Toro, Sen, Kyrsten, Jack Forrest, Lauren Fox, Morgan Rimmer, Natasha Bertrand, Haley Britzky Organizations: CNN, Republican, White, Department of Defense, Alabama Republican, Pentagon, US, US Central Command, Fleet, US Air Forces Central, Army and Air Force, House, Arizona Independent Locations: Israel, Gaza, Gulf of Oman –, Tuberville’s, Central, Arizona

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has sent military advisers, including a Marine Corps general versed in urban warfare, to Israel to aid in its war planning and is speeding multiple sophisticated air defense systems to the Middle East days ahead of an anticipated ground assault into Gaza. Glynn will also be advising on how to mitigate civilian casualties in urban warfare, the official said. The advisers will not be engaged in the fighting, the unidentified U.S. official said. Last Thursday the destroyer USS Carney shot down four land-attack cruise missiles launched from Yemen that the Pentagon has said were potentially headed toward Israel. The official noted arranging for the release of the Raanans took longer to come together than many people realized.

Persons: James Glynn, Glynn, Israel “, John Kirby, Kirby, Carney, Israel —, Eisenhower, “ We’re, ” Ryder, “, ”, Biden, Natalie Raanan, —, Axios Organizations: WASHINGTON, Pentagon, Marine Corps, Marine, Islamic, U.S, National Security, Patriot, Defense, Eisenhower, U.S . Central Command, Navy, Ford, U.S . Locations: Israel, Gaza, Islamic State, Fallujah, Iraq, Iran, Syria, East, Yemen, of Oman, Qatar, U.S

☆ Factbox-Iran's Middle East Allies Primed as Israel-Hamas War Rages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Since the war erupted on Oct. 7, the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah has already mounted operations against Israel, while others have threatened U.S. interests. Hezbollah has trained paramilitary groups in Syria and Iraq and inspired other forces such as Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis. Other Iran-backed Shi'ite groups backed by Tehran have played a vital combat role in Syria, including groups from Afghanistan and Iraq. Iran-backed forces have deployed across much of government-held Syria during the war, including at the Iraqi border and near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel has mounted airstrikes targeting Iranian and Iran-backed forces.

Persons: Israel, Bashar al, Assad, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, YEMEN Yemen's, Tom Perry, Edmund Blair Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Hezbollah, Israel, Party, Iran's, Guards, United, . Marine, U.S, Popular, Forces, Reuters, SYRIA Iran's Revolutionary Guards, The U.S . Fifth Fleet, Revolutionary Guards, U.S . Navy Locations: BEIRUT, Israel, Tehran, Iran, Lebanese, LEBANON, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, . Washington, United States, Beirut, IRAQ, U.S, State, SYRIA, Afghanistan, Golan Heights, YEMEN, Gaza, Saudi, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, The, Bahrain, Gulf of Oman

☆ Iran's Middle East allies primed as Israel-Hamas war rages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned on Oct. 17 of further action by Tehran's allies against Israel if it did not cease its attacks. Since the war erupted on Oct. 7, the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah has already mounted operations against Israel, while others have threatened U.S. interests. Hezbollah has trained paramilitary groups in Syria and Iraq and inspired other forces such as Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis. Other Iran-backed Shi'ite groups backed by Tehran have played a vital combat role in Syria, including groups from Afghanistan and Iraq. Iran-backed forces have deployed across much of government-held Syria during the war, including at the Iraqi border and near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Persons: Israel, Bashar al, Assad, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, YEMEN Yemen's, Tom Perry, Edmund Blair Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Hezbollah, Israel, Party, Iran's, Guards, United, . Marine, U.S, Popular, Forces, Reuters, SYRIA Iran's Revolutionary Guards, The U.S . Fifth Fleet, Revolutionary Guards, U.S . Navy, Thomson Locations: BEIRUT, Israel, Tehran, Iran, Lebanese, LEBANON, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, . Washington, United States, Beirut, IRAQ, U.S, State, SYRIA, Afghanistan, Golan Heights, YEMEN, Gaza, Saudi, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, The, Bahrain, Gulf of Oman

CNN —A US Marine rapid response force is headed to the waters off the coast of Israel and the Pentagon is preparing American troops for a potential deployment to the country, escalating the US’ show of force in the region as it works to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from widening any further. A defense official familiar with the planning said the rapid response force, consisting of 2,000 Marines and sailors, is being sent. That could be particularly valuable if Israel launches a ground invasion of Gaza, which could be complicated and bloody, experts have warned. Officials would not specify where exactly the Marine unit will now go, other than to say it is headed toward Israel. The Wall Street Journal was first to report about the potential deployment of troops to Israel.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Biden, Capt, Angelica White, Sabrina Singh, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, Hezbollah, Defense, Israel, USS Ford, Air Force, Troops, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Corps Locations: Israel, Iran, Lebanese, Gaza, Middle East, Kuwait, “, Red, Bataan, Gulf of Oman, of Oman, Hormuz

[1/3] A general view shows Haifa Port, which is to be sold to India's Adani Ports and local partner Gadot in Haifa, Israel July 24, 2022. Ashdod port has imposed restrictions on the transport of hazardous materials which has meant slower transits. Around 13 ships - comprising cargo, container and dry bulk vessels - were currently moored inside Ashdod port, according to MarineTraffic data. "The Suez Canal, a critical waterway for various commercial vessels, including container ships, may face disruptions," Container xChange CEO Christian Roeloffs said. The Marshall Islands registry, one of the world's top shipping flags, last week raised the security level for Israel's ports and its territorial waters to their highest.

Persons: Gadot, Ilan Rosenberg, Christian Roeloffs, Jonathan Saul, Ari Rabinovitch, David Evans, Louise Heavens Organizations: Haifa Port, Adani, REUTERS, Rights, Israel's, Port, MSC, Ministry, Marshall, Thomson Locations: Haifa, Israel, Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Port, Port of Haifa, ”, Israel's, Suez, Hormuz, United States, Arabian, Strait, Gulf of Oman and Red, Jerusalem

☆ Israel's Ports Feel Strain as Shipping Traffic Slows After Attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Israel's southern coastal city of Ashkelon, which has a small port well in range of Hamas rockets, is not allowing ships to enter, shipping sources said. While the main Israeli ports of Ashdod further up the coast and Haifa in the north, remain open, shipping and maritime security companies are reviewing their operations for Israel, industry sources said. "Israeli ports are deemed to be at heightened risk," said Noah Trowbridge, with British maritime risk advisory and security company Dryad Global. "Since Gaza has a coastline, direct threats to shipping inside Israeli waters cannot be ruled out," BRS said. This compared with a premium of 0.0125% earlier this year, insurance sources said.

Persons: Jonathan Saul, Ari Rabinovitch JERUSALEM, Noah Trowbridge, Hapag Lloyd, Shipbroker BRS, BRS, Moller Maersk, Eli Glickman, INTERTANKO, ” INTERTANKO, Ari Rabinovitch, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Hamas, Dryad, Reuters, Ships, Zim, Ministry of Defense, Facebook Locations: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Haifa, Israel, London, East Gulf, Gulf of Oman

☆ The US Navy turned the tables on Iran, sending drones that look like speedboats to spy on its warships and troublesome gunboats
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. US Navy photoAn undated still image released on Oct. 6 from video taken by an Arabian Fox MAST-13 unmanned surface vessel of an Iranian Navy AB-212 helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz. AdvertisementAdvertisementOther images from the September operation that were released by the US Navy on Friday showed an IRGCN warship and an Iranian Navy frigate. An L3Harris Arabian Fox MAST-13 unmanned surface vessel sails in the Arabian Gulf, Jan. 22, during exercise Neon Defender 23. US Navy photoA MARTAC T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessel operates in the Gulf of Aqaba, Mar.

Persons: —, NAVCENT, Joe Baggett, Ray USV, Brad Cooper, Cooper, Arleigh Burke, Alexus, Grynkewich, they'll Organizations: US Navy, Navy, Service, Washington, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, US Naval Forces Central Command, Iranian, Fleet, Iranian Navy, Arabian Fox, US Marines, Coast Guard, Pentagon, Bataan, Ready, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, US Air Forces Central Command, Defense Writers Locations: Tehran, Hormuz, Persian, Gulf of Oman, Iran, Arabian, Panama, Strait, Iranian Navy, Iranian, NAVCENT, Gulf, Aqaba, Mar

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Greek shipper has pleaded guilty to a charge over it smuggling sanctioned Iranian crude oil and agreed to pay a $2.4 million fine, U.S. federal court papers seen Thursday by The Associated Press show. In July, the top commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s naval arm threatened further action against anyone offloading the Suez Rajan, with state media linking the recent seizures to the cargo’s fate. In its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, Iran regained the ability to sell oil openly on the international market. It also began a cat-and-mouse hunt for Iranian oil cargo — as well as series of escalating attacks attributed to Iran since 2019. China is believed to be a major buyer of Iranian oil, likely at a significant discount.

Persons: shipper, Tourkantonis, Mark Wallace, George W, Bush, “, ” Wallace, Biden, Suez Rajan, Donald Trump Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Associated Press, Navigation, U.S, Nuclear, Empire, United Nations, Nuclear Iran, AP, Suez, Chevron Corp, Revolutionary, Embassy, U.S . Navy, Iranian, “ Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Suez, Islamic Republic, Tehran, Washington, South Korea, Iran, U.S, Nuclear Iran, Persian, South, Singapore, Mexico, Houston , Texas, Athens, Greece, Gulf of Mexico, America, Hormuz, Swiss, Switzerland, Bataan, Strait, Gulf of Oman, China

☆ Commercial ships told to stay far away from Iran due to a heightened possibility of attack or seizure
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US Navy is warning commercial ships to avoid traveling near Iranian territory. Iranian forces have already seized two oil tankers this year. Attacks on ships in the region have increased ever since Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal. Timothy Hawkins said ships "are being advised to transit as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible," noting a warning issued by the US-based International Maritime Security Construct. Since 2021, Iran has "harassed, attacked, or interfered with" the navigation rights of 15 internationally flagged merchant ships, according to the US Navy.

Persons: Timothy Hawkins, Biden, Trump, —, Michelle Grisé, Grisé Organizations: US Navy, Trump, Service, Associated Press, US, AP, International Atomic Energy Agency, RAND Corporation Locations: Iran, Wall, Silicon, Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Chevron, Islamic Republic, Europe, Iranian, United States, Washington, Tehran

☆ Modern day pirate hunters operate in the 'wild, wild West' as they track countless vessels smuggling 'arms, drugs, and people' on the open seas, former Naval admiral says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Modern day piracy is alive and well on the open seas. A recent Navy seizure notice shed light on the litany of illegal goods being trafficked. "As long as ships go to sea, there's gonna be piracy," a retired Navy admiral told Insider. "Somewhere in the world today, there's a pirate event," Terry McKnight, a retired Rear Admiral in the US Navy, told Insider. But the moment they exit territorial waters and make for the open seas, maritime officials are ready to apprehend them, he said.

Persons: Terry McKnight, McKnight, Matthew Bash Organizations: Service, US Navy, United States Naval Forces Central Command, International Maritime Bureau, Combined, Force, Getty, U.S . Coast Guard Maritime Safety, U.S . Navy, Warfare Locations: Wall, Silicon, yesteryear, Gulf of Oman, Yemen Republic, West, Somalia, Gulf, Aden, Yemen, Africa, U.S

☆ The US military's most advanced fighter jets and a warship are going to work in the Middle East to stop Iran from seizing commercial ships
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The US military is deploying fighter jets and a warship to the Middle East to deter Iran's forces. Iranian boats have repeatedly harassed and tried to seize commercial ships transiting the region. AP Photo/Petros KaradjiasCENTCOM's area of responsibility encompasses several million square miles of land across or 21 countries in the Middle East and Central and South Asia. Tehran's naval ships tried to capture two oil tankers on July 5 as they were transiting through international waters and even opened fire on one of them. The US and Iran have maintained a contentious relationship throughout the Biden administration, and Washington has repeatedly accused Tehran of threatening regional security in the Middle East and even harming American service members.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Thomas Hudner, Sabrina Singh, Singh, Elizabeth, Petros Karadjias, Biden Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Defense, US, AP, US Navy, US Air Force Locations: Wall, Silicon, Strait, Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Petros Karadjias CENTCOM's, East, Central, South Asia, Iran, Iranian, US, Washington, Tehran, Syria, State, Yemen

☆ US orders deployment of fighter jets and Navy destroyer to Middle East in response to Iranian activities
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered F-35 and F-16 fighter jets deployed to the Middle East, as well as the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, in response to Iranian activities in the Strait of Hormuz. The deployments come after two incidents earlier this month in which Iranian Navy ships attempted to seize merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. The US also bolstered its forces in the Middle East in May after destabilizing actions from Iran in the Persian Gulf. “[The] United States will not allow foreign or regional powers to jeopardize freedom of navigation through the Middle East waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz,” National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said at the time. He added that there is “simply no justification” for Iranian actions to interfere, harass or attack merchant ships.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Thomas Hudner, Sabrina Singh, ” Singh, “, Strategic Communications John Kirby Organizations: CNN, US, Defense, US Central Command Area, Pentagon, Iranian, US Navy, Richmond, ” National Security, Strategic Communications Locations: Strait, Hormuz, “, Gulf of Oman, Iranian, Iran, The, Persian, States

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