WASHINGTON (Agencies): The United States military is taking decisive measures to safeguard commercial ships in response to recent incidents of Iranian forces seizing vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. According to officials on Thursday, armed Marines and sailors will be embarked on the ships of private companies that express interest in the initiative. The move signals a significant escalation that could potentially escalate tensions between Washington and Tehran.
While the operation is yet to begin, senior Biden administration officials have given their approval, and implementation could commence as early as this month. Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., have been sent to Bahrain and undergone relevant training. Additional Marines are set to arrive, traveling aboard the USS Bataan and other vessels.
“We have a cohort on the ground,” said one of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the military planning. He further stated that the policy decision is nearing final approval.
The plan, reported by the Associated Press, is part of a series of robust actions being undertaken by the Biden administration in response to an alleged increase in Iranian attempts to seize commercial tankers. On July 5, Iranian forces attempted to commandeer two vessels off the coast of Oman, with one of the ships being fired upon and struck by the Iranians, according to U.S. military officials.
The pattern of harassment by Iran against commercial ships has been observed for several years, prompting the need for an “elevated response,” emphasized one of the officials.
In addition to deploying armed personnel on commercial ships, the U.S. military has taken other precautionary steps. These include deploying advanced F-35 jets and other fighter aircraft to the Persian Gulf region and increasing the presence of American warships, with an additional Navy destroyer joining the already robust fleet.
The Strait of Hormuz holds immense strategic importance, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and beyond to the open ocean. It serves as a vital passageway for much of the world’s oil transportation, making its security of utmost concern to international stakeholders.