Over 3,000 US troops have been deployed to the Red Sea in response to Iran’s seizure of oil tankers. The US Navy’s statement indicated that the USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall warships arrived in the region to provide “support and maritime capability” to the 5th Fleet. The USS Bataan is equipped to carry both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, while the USS Carter Hall serves as a dock-landing ship, transporting Marines, their supplies, and facilitating their disembarkation ashore.
According to the US military, Iran has been involved in the seizure or attempted seizure of approximately 20 international-flagged cargo or oil tankers in the region over the last two years. To counter this threat, the US recently announced the deployment of warships, F-35, and F-16 fighter jets to the Middle East, aiming to prevent further incidents of ship seizures in the Gulf.
