Gulf | Bahrain
Deployment of US Navy ship in Arabian Gulf 'not aimed at Iran'
The deployment of the mine hunter USS Gladiator in the Arabian Gulf on Tuesday was not aimed at Iran, a US Navy spokesman said.
- By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:00 January 24, 2007
Manama: The deployment of the mine hunter USS Gladiator in the Arabian Gulf on Tuesday was not aimed at Iran, a US Navy spokesman said.
"The presence of the minesweeper was a long-scheduled event that is not part of any military build-up in the Arabian Gulf.
"The USS Gladiator and another mine countermeasure ship are replacing two recently decommissioned coastal mine hunters, and the move should not be seen as aimed at any country," Lieutenant Commander Charlie Brown told Gulf News.
"We work closely with regional partners to provide security from mines in international waters so all commercial shipping can operate safely while transiting the region," he said.
Gladiator yesterday arrived in Bahrain to join the USS Dextrous and USS Ardent in operations "to protect ships and their crews from invisible threats in the water.
"The arrival of the 1,300 tonne, 224-foot Gladiator in Bahrain is part of the deployment of two new Avenger-class minesweepers that will maintain the current US Navy presence of four mine countermeasure ships in the Arabian Gulf".
The US has been beefing up its forces in the region and will next month have two carrier battle groups in the region with the arrival of the John C. Stennis, a Nimitz-class carrier.
The Stennis, with four accompanying ships, will join the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, currently deployed off the East Africa coast in search of terrorists fleeing Somalia following the Ethiopian-led invasion.
It will be the first deployment of two carriers in the region since the 2003 war on Iraq.
Additionally, US President George Bush earlier this month said the US would deploy Patriot anti-missile systems to the Middle East to defend allies against shorter-range missiles of the type that Iran could use to hit US bases in the area.
The deployment was denounced by Iran as part of a US plan to make Arab countries the front line protection of Israel.
But Defence Secretary Robert Gates said the US was, through the buildup, simply reaffirming the strategic importance of the Gulf region.
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