The US seeks to enlist allies in the next two weeks or so in a military coalition to safeguard strategic waters off Iran and Yemen, where Washington blames Iran and Iran-aligned fighters for attacks, Reuters reports.
Marine General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that America was confident allies would sign up to a US-led coalition in the next fortnight to safeguard merchant shipping in the wake of a number of vessel attacks in the Middle East in recent months.
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The plan, which was finalized recently, states that the US will provide command ships and lead surveillance operations for the coalition. In the meantime, the allies will secure and patrol waters near US command ships and escort commercial vessels with their nation’s flags.
Moreover, Dunford quoted
We’re engaging now with a number of countries to see if we can put together a coalition that would ensure freedom of navigation both in the Straits of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab.
The US’s coalition aims to keep safe the shipping in the Strait follows the attacks in May and June against oil tankers in Gulf waters. In June, the Iran shot down a US drone near the Strait, prompting President Donald Trump to order retaliatory air strikes, only to call them off.