US sending more warships to Gulf region to counter Iran’s attempts to seize ships

Washington. The US is sending additional warships and thousands of marines to bolster security in the region to counter Iran’s attempts to seize commercial shipping in the Gulf. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday approved a proposal to deploy the USS Bataan Naval Readiness Group and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Gulf region, according to US officials. The Naval Readiness Group consists of three warships, including Bataan. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is manned by approximately 2,500 Marines. US Central Command said in a statement that the deployment would “provide even greater resiliency and maritime capability in the region.”

The statement did not specify the warships and Marines that would be deployed to the region, but the US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, gave information about the warships and the maritime expeditionary unit being sent there. He said that apart from Bataan, the naval readiness group includes two other warships – USS Mesa Verde and USS Carter Hall. The group left earlier this month from Norfolk, Virginia. At present, it is not clear whether all the three ships have headed towards the Gulf region.

The US has previously sent the USS Thomas Hudner warship and F-35 and F-16 fighter jets to the region. Several A-10 fighter jets have also been present in the area over the past several days in response to Iranian activities. Earlier this month, Iran tried to seize two foreign oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The US has deployed warships and fighter jets there to provide air and sea cover for ships passing through the area.

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