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Expecting Trouble? U.S. Deploys F-35s to UAE, Naval Assets to Red Sea, Persian Gulf

Expecting Trouble? U.S. Deploys F-35s to UAE, Naval Assets to Red Sea, Persian Gulf

Is the U.S. trying to stave off Iranian mischief in the Middle East?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/my_public_domain_photos/35027434741/in/photolist-VnfL1D-kv6zpe-29H2Saf-24MUR8F-HeckKM-2e6H1WJ-MF1Jbs-2cw8mMR-pxfDZ8-21wpFdR-2e31tXs-vFgTQt-v2qVDB-23YfZi3-CmyLtW-G3tAr8-hMS8Ze-hMSXAf-Vuw74B-bM4bsz-8Yn9za-8QKr9a-ahtGRQ-24qHQwD-Q9DhTa-PHtJ3D-2aLCWd7-fzHHrt-VFhAwW-HD8Jto-2f39XCa-pWeJhr-pDRtHQ-4jhcQj-bmaZnw-6pnoAq-i5K1vi-QpWR6G-tytfNs-8uU2gm-qkZHE9-CynTos-GLGUKF-rjXwb3-Rzhbrg-271Mjg1-5rhNAH-HBdFPb-Mn5gYn-22E3yxn

The United States has deployed a number of its military assets to the Middle East. It could just be part of a normal rotation, or maybe there are concerns that the planes and ships are there to address.

The Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday that the U.S. has sent a number F-35 Lightning stealth fighters to the United Arab Emirates. The fighters jets arrived earlier this week at al-Dhafra Air Base in the UAE.

“The F-35A provides our nation air dominance in any threat,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein said in a statement announcing the deployment. “When it comes to having a quarterback for the coalition joint force, the inter-operable F-35A is clearly the aircraft for the leadership role.”

This marks the first operational deployment of the advanced aircraft by the United States in the Middle East.

(Last year, Israeli Air Force Commander Amikam Norkin said that Israel was the first nation to use the F-35 in combat situations, apparently referring to Israeli efforts to prevent Iran from establishing military bases in Syria.)

The UAE has expressed interest in purchasing the advanced jets. UAE Air Force Brig.-Gen. Rashed Al Shamsi said last year that the U.S. “could now be willing to sell” the F-35 to his nation.

There were unconfirmed reports last year that a UAE delegation visited Israel to learn more about the F-35s.

In addition to the deployment of the stealth fighters to the UAE, the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis is currently deployed to the Red Sea, and the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group is in the Persian Gulf.

According to a report last month in Stars and Stripes, the Stennis has been deployed with both the 5th and 7th fleets as part of the Pentagon’s Dynamic Force Employment strategy, which is meant to add an element of unpredictability to the deployment of the U.S. naval force. (The 5th fleet covers the Middle East and the 7th fleet covers the western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

A year ago, the White House noted that Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran had threatened international shipping through Bab al Mandab, a crucial strait that connects the Red Sea with the Sea of Aden.

The United States is very concerned about the Houthis’ latest attempt to escalate the war in Yemen, this time by attacking a commercial vessel while it transited one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, the Bab al-Mandab, in international waters. A significant portion of global trade moves through the Bab al-Mandab every day, including key energy and food supplies. In January, the Houthis publicly threatened to attack international commercial maritime traffic in the Red Sea, and launched this attack near the vital port of Hudaydah.

These deployments may all be related to regular rotations of forces. Or perhaps they’re meant to deter Iranian mischief in the Middle East.

[Photo: Robert Sullivan / Flickr ]

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Comments

One cant help but think if the baby jesus Obama was in power he’d be sending pellets if cash to the eyeranians to keep them quiet.

notamemberofanyorganizedpolicital | April 17, 2019 at 4:52 pm

Methinks they’re gonna bomb Iran with the FAKE Mueller Report.

Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump

It has been incorrectly reported that Rudy Giuliani and others will not be doing a counter to the Mueller Report. That is Fake News. Already 87 pages done, but obviously cannot complete until we see the final Witch Hunt Report.

We will be doing a major Counter Report to the Mueller Report. This should never again be allowed to happen to a future President of the United States!

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1071055923848855553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1071055923848855553&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheconservativetreehouse.com%2F2019%2F04%2F17%2Frudy-giuliani-preparing-rebuttal-report%2F

    I would like to see them take out 40+ hydroelectric and water reservoirs, that would send a clear message. Then, if they don’t understand the message knock out all of their electric grid.

    Return Iran to the stone age.

more aircraft beta testing…

April 15, 2019 The Islamic State in Somalia’s (ISS) deputy emir was reported killed by a US airstrike yesterday in Somalia’s northern Puntland region. Both the United States and Somali governments have confirmed the death of the emir.

“Abdulhakim Dhuqub, a high-ranking Islamic State Somalia official,” was killed in the strike, which took place “in the vicinity of Xiriiro, Bari Region, Somalia, on April 14, 2019,” US Africa Command (AFRICOM) notes in a press release. Dhuqub, whose real name was Abdihakim Mohamed Ibrahim, was the overall deputy emir of ISS. He assumed this role after the death of the previous deputy emir, Mahad Moalim, in Mogadishu late last year.

https://www.longwarjournal.org/

This is multi-level military/diplomatic action. It does several things.

First, it, along with the declaring the IRGC a FTO, puts pressure on Iran to hinder its expansion. The sanctions are placing incredible stress on the Mullahs in Iran. That pressure is likely to cause Iran to explore increased foreign adventurism. The additional military assets reduce the attractiveness of Iranian military action, both direct and through surrogates.

Second, it sends the message to those, who are more disposed to work with the US, that the US will work on their behalf, as well. Sending a wing of F-35 fighters is not going to impact the military situation, in the area, in any significant way.

Third, it reminds other actors that the US has enough assets to concentrate a significant force in pone area and still have enough to act as a deterrent in other places.

What really worries our enemies, including the Congressional Democrats and RINOs, is the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group cruising around the Gulf, within easy striking distance of Yemen. We can make a good guess what would happen if the Houthi rebels actually sink, or effectively attack, any shipping in the Red Sea.

    It’s interesting this comes so soon after Trump vetoing that War Powers Act resolution.

    I have no objection to the US having allies, and as those words imply, actually standing with those allies.

Mac,

This is hood, demonstrating America will once again stand with its allies.

Ask the Poles or the Jews how that worked out for them.under the man baby Obana error.

Remember the Tanker War? The Iranian Revolution may be entering its final days.

The Marines deployed the F-35B to Afghanistan last September flying off the USS Essex:

https://navaltoday.com/2018/09/28/f-35b-conducts-first-combat-strike-from-uss-essex/

DOD has a new rapid strike policy set up recently. This could be working out the kinks.

They want four birds with ancillary equipment in the disputed area in a number of hours.

I would give a link but I can’t remember which military site had it.

Maybe I’m the only one who’s noticed that suddenly our intelligence agencies seem to be concentrating on our enemies for a change instead of Republicans.

People need to look at the map. This is about Iran’s control of Yemen. They are determined to raise havoc in the Straits of Hormuz. Any major disruption would send the international price of oil to dizzying heights. This would disrupt the world economy, especially to those who rely on oil imports from that region… everyone but us (but it still effects us).

It’s NOT about “those Jews” in Israel. It’s about everything.

This could send us back to the 17-18th century green utopian days of mercantilism that the communist children of the corn are trying to sell us. We can’t afford the luxury of taking chances. At some point, we need to clean out Yemen and their ilk.