WNU Editor: The AP is reporting that U.S. warships headed by the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt are streaming to Yemeni waters to confront Iranian attempts to ship weapons to the Houthi rebels .... US warship heads to Yemeni waters; could block Iran weapons (AP). This is a breaking news story and we will update it as more information becomes available.
Update: U.S. carrier moving off coast of Yemen to block Iranian arms shipments -- USA Today
15 comments:
Now the time is near for the US to make a decision. Do they back the Saudis and turn back the Iranis? Or do they back the Iranis and use their presence as a means to allow the passage of the convoy? The Iranians seem to be forcing the issue with their very public sailing. Now there only seems to be three probable outcomes; the Iranians turn back, the Iranians pass, or the Iranians go for one of the near island chains such as Socotra. In the event of either of the first two it would mean the end of a years long alliance (warts and all) or the grave loss of face for Iran and the public end of the Administrations Irani centric mideast policy. The third would only postpone the drama.
Any word on Russian ships joining the party in the nearby future????
Anon,
I doubt if you'll see any, there's no need for them. The US has got themselves into this one all by themselves, Putin's gotta be laughing.
No one speaks of Socotra except to mention the strange fauna & flora and show it in glossy photo shoots.
In whose control is Socotra or would the islanders rather just satay out of it?
I assume the latter.
Could the Iranians even dock there?
Aizino,
Ostensibly Yemeni. There is a small airfield on the largest island and there is or was a US SOF presence there. It's location (48 or so miles off Yemen) puts it in enough of a legally gray area to make it hard to say they couldn't go there. It also sits right in the mouth of Bab el Mandeb outlet. Well within missile range of shipping. Before everyone starts reminding me that they wouldn't last long if they did attack shipping, let me say this, an actual attack wouldn't be necessary. Of the three sea outlets for Saudi Arabia they would physically be on two and very close to the third. Think of the insurance premium payments of sea borne oil shipping.
I'm sure the locals would love to stay out of it, but that might not be their call.
They arn't there to sink anybody.
Saudi Arabia has been using the UNSCR to illegally blockaide the Straight and Yemeni Ports, barring the transit of food, fuel and medicine.
With the Egyptians and Pakistani's declining on entering into a ground war in Yemen, for Saudi Arabia, the Saudi's have had to switch to Plan B,
Biafra-ing Yemen and starving the country into submission.
The Iranian ships are there to break the illegal blockaide. The Saudi's will either have to shoot, or pay the US Navy to shoot, and at that point in time, it goes not only back to the UNSC, but the UN GA and the ICC.
Breaking an illegal blockade by bringing in illegal weapons?
The Iranians are only bringing in food and medicine? In that case they should let the ships be searched.
Aizino,
Do you know of any US Navy ships that have "no weapons?"
Of course not, which is why the propaganda says "some weapons", which as with any Naval force, will have ASW, Air defences, and anti-piracy, ship defence small arms.
The first step the Iranians will take is to force passage through the Straight with out being searched, which is perfectly legal under the Laws of the Sea and the UNSCR, but the Saudi's are illegally stopping transit and forcing searches.
If they manage to do that, with out a shooting War starting, then they will change course for a Yemeni port, and at that time, may allow a US search,(to play nice), but not a Saudi one, as that is a violation of the Law of the Sea, International Soverignity and a violation of the UNSCR.
If they make Port, again with out a shooting war, the. They will offload the fuel, water, food and medicine they are carrying, and will start missions escorting humanitarian aid into Yemen.
If they manage that, then the Saudi Plan B of "winning the war" by starving 7 million Yemeni's to death, fails.
They might even evacuate some Americans while they are there.
Indeed, also thanks for reporting about this, haven't seen anything about it in Norwegian media. Also do you have any news about the Norwegian guy that are stuck in Yemen? Last thing I read from my media is that he is accused of espionage which is probably a false accusation.
No news on Norwegians from my end Rhaegar
I concur Jay .... the Iranians will never let a Saudi board their ship. The Chinese are also in the vicinity .... I can see a Chinese search with U.S. observers .... but I am just speculating here. Overall .... the situation is very dangerous right now .... the U.S. does not send carriers unless the security situation is dire .... and Yemen is nothing but dire.
On a side note .... you are right about the food and water situation in Yemen ..., it is it's Achilles Heel, and it would not surprise me if the Saudis put the squeeze on the Houthi rebels in such a manner. Whether or not it will succeed .... that is another story.
Do you know of any US Navy ships that have "no weapons?"
As cargo.
"convoy of about eight Iranian ships"
Very nondescript.
Not one world wide news organization such as the AP that has been around for decades can manage to get a picture via boat or drone and look up ship types.
I suppose that a destroyer could carry millions of tons of food and water!
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