Battleships, aircraft carriers, minesweepers and submarines from 25 nations
are converging on the strategically important Strait of Hormuz in an
unprecedented show of force as Israel and Iran move towards the brink of
war.
Western leaders are convinced that Iran will retaliate to any attack by
attempting to mine or blockade the shipping lane through which passes around
18 million barrels of oil every day, approximately 35 per cent of the
world’s petroleum traded by sea.
A blockade would have a catastrophic effect on the fragile economies of
Britain, Europe the United States and Japan, all of which rely heavily on
oil and gas supplies from the Gulf.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most congested international
waterways. It is only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point and is bordered
by the Iranian coast to the north and the United Arab Emirates to the south.
In preparation for any pre-emptive or retaliatory action by Iran, warships
from more than 25 countries, including the United States, Britain, France,
Saudi Arabia and the UAE, will today begin an annual 12-day exercise.
The war games are the largest ever undertaken in the region.
They will practise tactics in how to breach an Iranian blockade of the strait and the force will also undertake counter-mining drills.
The multi-national naval force in the Gulf includes three US Nimitz class carrier groups, each of which has more aircraft than the entire complement of the Iranian air force. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9545597/Armada-of-British-naval-power-massing-in-the-Gulf-as-Israel-prepares-an-Iran-strike.html
While these may be war games, I think they are letting Iran know not to mess around in case Israel does decide to bomb.
And I am sure Obama is praying that Israel doesn't bomb Iran until after the elections.
The war games are the largest ever undertaken in the region.
They will practise tactics in how to breach an Iranian blockade of the strait and the force will also undertake counter-mining drills.
The multi-national naval force in the Gulf includes three US Nimitz class carrier groups, each of which has more aircraft than the entire complement of the Iranian air force. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9545597/Armada-of-British-naval-power-massing-in-the-Gulf-as-Israel-prepares-an-Iran-strike.html
While these may be war games, I think they are letting Iran know not to mess around in case Israel does decide to bomb.
And I am sure Obama is praying that Israel doesn't bomb Iran until after the elections.
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