U.S. takes command of naval gulf task force

Above: The seizure by Iran of 15 British sailors and Marines in the Shatt al Arab ('Arab Coastline') from the HMS Cornwall created a two-week crisis in March. Left: National boundaries of the waterway -- Iraq's only outlet to the sea -- have long been contested by Iraq and Iran, which calls it the Arvandrud ('Arvand River').

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Garry Hall relieved Royal Navy Commodore Nick Lambert on Tuesday as commander of Combined Task Force 158, which is tasked with protecting oil terminals near Iraq.

CTF-158 is a coalition of ships from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, which provides security in and around the Al Basrah and Khawr Al Amaya oil terminals in the northern Persian Gulf...

“My staff is ready and prepared to take on this coalition mission,” said Severs, who also is the commodore for Destroyer Squadron 50, in a statement released by 5th Fleet. “We will play a vital role in maritime operations in the [northern gulf].”

Read the rest at Navy Times

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