Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU(SOC)), prepare to board a UH-1Y Venom during a defense of amphibious task force (DATF) rehearsal aboard amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), Red Sea, Aug. 7, 2023. US Marine Corps Photo
A force of 100 Marines, newly trained by Navy personnel, stand ready to respond, if ordered, to provide armed security aboard foreign commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, USNI has learned. Read More
Photo Courtesy of Google Earth
A new vessel has been observed under construction in Iran, according to satellite imagery. Read More
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) operating in an unsafe and unprofessional manner in close proximity to patrol coastal ship USS Sirocco (PC-6) and expeditionary fast transport USNS Choctaw County (T-EPF-2) in the Strait of Hormuz, June 20, 2022. US Navy Photo
Three Iranian fast attack craft harassed two U.S. Navy ships entering the Persian Gulf on Tuesday, Navy officials told USNI News. Read More
Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) vessels conducted unsafe and unprofessional actions against U.S. Military ships by crossing the ships’ bows and sterns at close range while operating in international waters of the North Arabian Gulf. The guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) is conducting joint interoperability operations in support of maritime security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. US Navy photo.
The U.S. Navy’s stay-away warning to marine traffic in the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman was intended for Iran, Pentagon officials confirmed on Thursday. Read More
MANAMA, Bahrain (Jan. 30, 2020) Rear Adm. Alvin Holsey (left), commander of the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), salutes Royal Navy Commodore James Parkin (right) during a change of command ceremony for the IMSC. Holsey was relieved by Parkin during the ceremony. U.S. Navy
THE PENTAGON – The U.K. Royal Navy is now leading the international effort to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman following a change of command ceremony Thursday. Read More
HMS Defender seen here with the dhow in the foreground, flanked by two Royal Marine Boarding Teams in 2016. Royal Navy Photo
Mark T. Esper answers questions from members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., July 16, 2019. US Army Photo
This post was updated with additional information from the Pentagon.
Army Secretary Mark Esper has been confirmed to serve as the next secretary of defense in a 90-8 vote in the Senate on Tuesday. He was sworn in during an Oval Office ceremony on Tuesday evening. Read More
U.S. Secretary of the Army Dr. Mark T. Esper enters the room before his confirmation hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., July 16, 2019. Esper was nominated for Secretary of Defense by President Donald J. Trump on July 15, 2019. (DoD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)
CAPITOL HILL – Maintaining a technological edge, improving the lives of military families and continuing to present potential adversaries with an assured strong U.S. response to hostile acts would be among Secretary of the Army Mark Esper’s priorities if the Senate approves his nomination to lead the Department of Defense.
The following is the June 18, 2019 Congressional Research Service Insight report, Saudi Arabia. Read More
Undated photo of IRGCN fast attack boat.
CAPITOL HILL — The Navy isn’t anticipating changes in how it deals with the naval branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as it operates in the Persian Gulf, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson told USNI News on Wednesday. Read More
