The UK’s Royal Navy would resume accompaniments of UK-flagged commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the country’s defense ministry said.
The announcement comes amid the rising tensions in the region following the killing of Qassem Soleimani, an Iranian military commander, by the United States in Iraq on January 3.
Ben Wallace, the UK Secretary of State for Defence & MP for Wyre and Preston North revealed that the Duke-class frigate HMS Montrose (F236) and the Daring-class air-defense destroyer HMS Defender (D36) will be protecting ships in the abovementioned oil shipping lane.
“I have instructed preparations for HMS Montrose and HMS Defender to return to accompanying duties of Red Ensign Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” Wallace said.
“The Government will take all necessary steps to protect our ships and citizens at this time.”
In 2019, the Royal Navy was also defending its vessels in the region due to a number of attacks on commercial tankers and Iran’s seizing of the UK-flagged tanker Stena Impero.
Naval Today Staff