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Iraq faces “the most acute and immediate” threat from Iranian-backed militias, a top State Department official said last week. Read More
Official: Iranian-Backed Militias Pose ‘Acute and Immediate’ Threat to Iraq
Category Archives: Iran
Report on Iraq and U.S. Policy
The following is the Sept. 29, 2020 Congressional Research Service In Focus report, Iraq and U.S. Policy Read More
USS Nimitz Now Operating in the Persian Gulf
For the first time in ten months, a U.S. aircraft carrier is now operating in the Persian Gulf, U.S. 5th Fleet announced on Friday morning. Read More
Pompeo: ‘Tide Has Turned’ Against China’s Tech Espionage, Financial Pressure on Other Nations
Chinese sailors watch a People’s LIberation Army Navy (PLAN) pull into Djibouti. Xinhua Photo
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China is operating under a “fundamentally false assumption” that the United States is “a declining nation” rather than a country fully committed to preserving a rules-based world. Read More
U.S. Carriers Resume Port Visits to Oman After 7-Month Gap
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) docks pier side in the port of Duqm, Oman in 2014. US Navy Photo
After seven months, U.S. aircraft carriers have resumed making port calls in Oman, U.S. 5th Fleet officials confirmed to USNI News on Thursday. Read More
VIDEO: VADM Paparo Takes Command of U.S. 5th Fleet; VADM Malloy to Deputy CENTCOM
Vice Adm. Jim Malloy, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) delivers remarks during the hybrid change of command on board Naval Support Activity Bahrain on Aug. 19, 2020. US Navy Photo
A new commander has taken charge of U.S. naval forces in the Middle East as tensions with Iran continue to simmer. Read More
Navy Quietly Starts Development of Next-Generation Carrier Fighter; Plans Call for Manned, Long-Range Aircraft
An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the “’olden Warriors’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87, launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) on May 26, 2020. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated to clarify comments from Bryan Clark.
After nearly a decade of fits and starts, the Navy has quietly initiated work to develop its first new carrier-based fighter in almost 20 years, standing up a new program office and holding early discussions with industry, USNI News has learned. Read More
Iranians Raided Tanker Off UAE Searching for 1M Barrels of Petroleum Seized by U.S.; DOJ: ‘They Were Looking For Their Gas’
M/T Wila, a merchant vessel in international waters en-route to the UAE port of Khor Fakkan, in the Gulf of Oman, was boarded by armed Iranian personnel from both an Iranian Sea King helicopter and the Iranian auxiliary vessel Hendijan (1401) on Aug. 12, 2020. US Navy Photo
Iranian forces were looking for 1.1 million barrels in petroleum products seized by the U.S. Justice Department when they took over a merchant tanker in the Gulf of Oman earlier this week, DoJ officials confirmed to USNI News. Read More
VIDEO: Iranian Forces Briefly Seize Tanker in Gulf of Oman
Motor Tanker (M/T) Wila, a merchant vessel in international waters en-route to the UAE port of Khor Fakkan, in the Gulf of Oman, was boarded by armed Iranian personnel who fast roped aboard the ship from an Iranian Sea King helicopter as it hovered above on Aug. 12, 2020. US Navy Photo
An Iranian special forces team boarded and seized a Liberian tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates for about five hours on Wednesday. The action by Iranian forces drew swift condemnation from the U.S.-led collation created to deter harassment of merchant ships in and out of the Persian Gulf. Read More
Carrier Eisenhower Now Operating in Atlantic Near Spain
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Marcus Bowen observes flight operations on the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) on July 15, 2020. US Navy Photo
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) left the Mediterranean Sea and is now operating off the coast of southern Spain, a Navy official confirmed to USNI News on Friday. Read More
