A whole lot of service members earned an award for seizing two million kilos of “explosive precursor materials” within the Gulf of Oman final 12 months, based on a quotation obtained by Navy.com. It is without doubt one of the U.S. navy’s largest publicly revealed hauls as it really works to stifle arms smuggling within the area.
Between late August and early September, Marines and sailors with the twenty sixth Marine Expeditionary Unit, together with Coast Guardsmen assigned to Patrol Forces Southwest Asia, intercepted a “stateless vessel” suspected of carrying the explosive materials, offloaded its haul, and escorted the vessel to a naval base in Bahrain.
Marines and sailors with the twenty sixth MEU — a “particular operations succesful” unit — supplied safety for the Coast Guard unit because it interdicted the vessel and offloaded its cargo, based on the quotation. The award, the Coast Guard Meritorious Workforce Commendation, was signed off on by the service’s commandant, Adm. Linda L. Fagan.
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“This interservice group consisted of Coast Guard underway officers of the deck and engineers of the watch, mixed with a safety detachment made up from the twenty sixth MEU,” stated the quotation, supplied to Navy.com by the MEU. “Collectively, they executed a 17-hour, high-tension nighttime transit by the Strait of Hormuz.”
The quotation stated that the service members transported the vessel, utilizing a Coast Guard-led “prize group,” 530 nautical miles west by the Strait of Hormuz, “ensuing within the first-ever supply of a seized stateless vessel to Naval Base Bahrain,” which is positioned within the Persian Gulf.
In line with Interpol, explosive precursors are chemical substances or supplies that — when put collectively — could make do-it-yourself explosives or improvised explosive gadgets.
The character of the seized vessel, its origins and vacation spot are unclear, based on the quotation. Navy.com requested the twenty sixth MEU on Monday for extra details about the vessel, however a spokesperson stated that the quotation was the one data the service would launch to the general public.
Whereas particulars concerning the vessel are unclear, Tehran-backed smuggling and harassment of business ships within the area have been catalysts for U.S. interdiction and maritime safety efforts for years.
These efforts solely elevated after Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault on Israel, which threw the Center East into renewed turmoil, emboldening regional factions just like the Houthis of their purpose to disrupt maritime commerce.
Whereas the mission performed by the Coasties, Marines and sailors ended a month earlier than the Oct. 7 assault, it’s indicative of the broader safety considerations the U.S. navy has about arms smuggling in among the world’s most essential worldwide waterways.
The interdiction occurred below the management of Commander Process Pressure 55, or CTF55, a joint entity designed for such missions, which has seen loads of motion within the area, together with associate items.
Studies surfaced round that point that Marines with the MEU have been coaching in Bahrain for ship safety. The unit initially deployed to the area in response to elevated harassment of business vessels by the Iranian navy, however its deployment was prolonged twice after the Oct. 7 assault, when it was rushed from an train in Kuwait to the Mediterranean as a deterrent measure.
The service members have been awarded the commendation on Nov. 9, nevertheless it was solely lately famous in a Marine administrative message in April. Along with 192 Marines and sailors with the twenty sixth MEU, 342 sailors assigned to the usCarter Corridor additionally acquired the commendation.
Navy.com contacted the Coast Guard asking what number of of its service members earned the award, nevertheless it didn’t present solutions by publication. Service members aboard the usStethem and Coast Guard Cutters Emlen Tunnell, Glen Harris and John Scheuerman have been additionally cited within the award’s writeup.
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