
The US Navy has tightened its maritime blockade on Iran, expanding naval patrols and reinforcing enforcement across key waterways as part of a rapidly escalating standoff in the region.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that American forces have initiated a large-scale maritime blockade targeting vessels entering and departing Iranian ports.

US President Donald Trump has ordered the US Navy to block ships from entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz.

Egyptian and Greek naval forces have conducted joint drills in the Mediterranean Sea, within the range of the Egyptian Northern Fleet.
The Royal Australian Air Force’s P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft has completed its first deployment to the Middle East. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said this deployment was a targeted and meaningful element of Australia’s broader contribution to the International
The IMX 19 (International Maritime Exercise) that took place in the Middle East recently gathered 30 ships and over 50 nations for two weeks of mine countermeasures evolutions. Spread across a vast area from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean and Gulf, the exercise will see participants sharing knowled
The US Navy-led International Maritime Exercise 2019 (IMX 19) that will involve participants from over 50 nations kicked off in the Persian Gulf on October 21. The exercise will span from the Suez Canal south to the Bab-al-Mandeb, through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Northern Arabian Gulf. It w
A keel-laying ceremony held in Cadiz, Spain, has marked the start of assembly works on the Royal Saudi Navy’s first Avante 2200 corvette. The ships are built by SAMI Navantia Naval Industries (SAMINavantia), a joint venture between Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and Navantia S.A. The keel-
US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ramage (DDG-61) visited Beirut, Lebanon, on September 14, becoming the first American ship to do so in over 30 years. During the visit to Beirut, US Ambassador Elizabeth Richard and Vice Admiral Jim Malloy, Commander, US Naval Forces Central Command/Commande
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan has arrived in the Persian Gulf where it is set to ensure the safe passage of British-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s seizing of tanker Stena Impero on July 19. Last week the government confirmed that the Royal Navy has been tasked to accom
The sailors and marines aboard US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Boxer have destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz on July 18, US president Donald Trump said during a White House event. While various media reports said the incident was confirmed by “senior defense officials”, Iranian o
The UK is sending Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan to the Persian Gulf in the wake of an escalation of tensions in the region following the scrapping of the Iran nuclear deal and a spate of attacks on commercial tankers. HMS Duncan was operating in the Black Sea when the ship’s new tasking was announced
Ships from the navies of the US, the UK and France have kicked off the mine countermeasures exercise Artemis Trident in the Persian Gulf. “Mine laying poses a risk to naval ships as well as merchant shipping vessels,” the US 5th Fleet said in an announcement. “As mines threaten maritime traffic indi
US 5th Fleet’s Task Force 55 and commercial shipping industry representatives joined forces recently to complete exercise Lucky Mariner 19. The annual exercise concluded March 15 and was led by the task force’s Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) detachment designed to exercise comma