The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG) 60 sail in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. (U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Anna Van Nuys)
NBC: Convoy of Iranian Ships Parked in Arabian Sea, U.S. Officials Say
The convoy of Iranian ships suspected of carrying weapons destined for rebels in Yemen is parked in the north Arabian Sea, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
The aircraft carrier the USS Theodore Roosevelt and a guided missile cruiser, the Normandy, are safely to the northeast, the officials said. The Theodore Roosevelt and seven other American ships arrived in the Arabian Sea on Monday, and U.S. officials said that they could intercept the convoy.
Iran backs the rebels, known as the Houthis, who have seized the Yemeni capital of Sanaa and other parts of the country. The United States has supported a Saudi-led campaign of airstrikes on rebel targets.
Update: Carrier Roosevelt Keeps Close Watch on Nine Iranian Ships Off Yemen -- Military.com
WNU Editor: You have to love the politics and international nuances that are involved in this "episode". The official U.S. line is the following .... White House says movement of U.S. ship near Yemen to ensure commerce (Reuters). But everyone knows that the U.S. Navy is there to watch the Iranians .... Sources: US aircraft carrier, fighter jets shadowing Iranian convoy near Yemen (FOX News/AP). As for the Iranian flotilla being "parked" in the Arabian Sea .... I am willing to bet that there must be some interesting discussions occurring right now on what to do next.
4 comments:
WNU Editor,
Depends on Saudi Arabia, and what Operation Restoring Hope is, if it's political, then the Iranians did what they intended,
If it's military, then the Iranian ships will make steam again.
I'm thinking Saudi Arabia halting air strikes might have been negotiated behind the scenes.
Iran can claim that sending their war ships scared SA into stopping.
The US can claim that it's blockade stopped Iran.
Everyone saves a little face.
I was thinking the same thing
WNU,
Well a quick look and you're right about the discussions. I bet there are at least 5 or 6 different ones going on. Still some things haven't changed that much, the Iranians are not going home (any time soon) and by their presence and implied actions are forcing the US into the situation and forcing them to take sides. We see some results of this in the Saudi announcement of a bombing halt, but it's obvious too the Irani's want more. At a minimum some kind of negotiated terms to legitamize the Houthi's presence in the government. The thing is none of the three can let this hang forever as is. The US is kinda like the dog who finally caught that car he's been chasing all these years and is in a "now what do I do" situation.
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