The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain are holding the first joint naval exercises with Israel, a year after the Gulf states normalized relations with the Jewish state in a context of “threat” against Iran, military sources said today. .
The naval exercises, which began on Wednesday and will last five days, are being held in the Red Sea, next to the strategically important Suez Canal, whose shores are shared mainly by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the U.S. Navy said in a statement. conducts high schools.
“It is fascinating to see US forces being trained alongside regional partners to strengthen our collective maritime security capabilities,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, chief of the US Navy’s Central Command.
“Maritime co-operation helps maintain the freedom of navigation and free trade flows necessary for regional stability and security,” he added.
This is the first military-maritime cooperation between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel since the establishment of diplomatic ties between these Arab countries and the Jewish state in September 2020.
Last year, Israel and the UAE participated in joint aviation high schools in Greece. And last month, the head of the UAE Air Force, Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed al-Alawi, traveled to southern Israel to attend the “Blue Flag”, the largest air force in Israel.
In addition to boosting co-operation with new regional partners, high schools in the Red Sea are aimed at protecting the seas from the influence of Iran, the number one enemy of the Jewish state, an IDF official said on condition of anonymity.
Is Iran in the spotlight?
“These high schools” will increase our co-operation and security at sea and not just in the Red Sea, as we deal with Iranian terrorism that broke out a few months ago on Mercer Street, “the official said, citing the” threat “from Iran.
On July 29, MT Mercer Street, a tanker operated by an company owned by an Israeli billionaire, was targeted by a UAV off Oman, killing a British private guard and a Romanian sailor.
The United States, the United Kingdom and Israel immediately blamed Iran, which denied any involvement, amid a series of attacks and sabotage in the region.
“Iran’s involvement in the region is not limited to insurgents operating through proxies (…) but is also taking place at sea,” he said, referring to Iranian maneuvers earlier this week in the Strait of Hormuz. for the transport of hydrocarbons.
The UAE, Bahrain and Israel share a common concern with Iran, which is accused of orchestrating attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf to the Arabian Sea.
“The Israelis can launch an (attack on Iran), but we will decide on its outcome,” said Iranian General Admiral Hajizadeh, head of the Revolutionary Guards’ orthodox branch of the Islamic Republic’s ideological army.
Source: AMPE
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Source From: Capital
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