U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Reassures Gulf Allies

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks to service members and civilian mariners aboard the USS Ponce in Manama, Bahrain, Dec. 6, 2013. Hagel thanked the service members and mariners for their service and wished them happy holidays. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

Hagel Reassures Gulf Allies U.S. Committed To Regional Security -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel toured an anti-mine warfare ship in the U.S. Fifth Fleet on Friday to underscore U.S. commitment to Middle East security despite policy differences over Iran and Syria that have angered Washington's longtime Gulf allies.

His visit to Bahrain, in which he will also speak at the Manama Dialogue security conference, came at a time of regional unease over President Barack Obama's policies ranging from the cautious U.S. response to Syria's civil war to the six world powers' interim deal with Iran on its nuclear program.

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