U.S. Coast Guard Seizes $30 Million in Drugs with International Task Force May 8, 2023 — A U.S. Coast Guard fast response cutter seized more than $30 million of heroin and methamphetamine from a fishing vessel transiting the Gulf of Oman, May 8. MORE

U.S. Navy Hosts Oman’s Naval Commander at Headquarters in Bahrain May 7, 2023 — U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) welcomed Oman’s top naval commander to the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain, May 7, coinciding with the start of an Oman-led maritime exercise in the Gulf of Oman. MORE

Second Merchant Vessel Seized within a Week by Iran May 3, 2023 — On May 3 at approximately 6:20 a.m. local time, Panama-flagged oil tanker Niovi was seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. MORE

U.S. Navy Hosts Qatar’s Top Naval Leader in Bahrain May 2, 2023 — U.S. 5th Fleet hosted Qatar’s top naval leader May 2 at the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain, marking strengthening ties between U.S. and Qatari maritime forces. MORE

Merchant Vessel Seized by Iran in Gulf of Oman April 27, 2023 — On April 27 at approximately 1:15 p.m. 1ocal time, Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Advantage Sweet was seized by the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy while transiting international waters in the Gulf of Oman. The oil tanker issued a distress call during the seizure. U.S. 5th Fleet is monitoring the situation. MORE

U.S. Navy Ship Patrolling Middle East Seizes $42 Million in Drugs April 21, 2023 — A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer interdicted a fishing vessel attempting to smuggle $42 million in illegal drugs while transiting the Gulf of Oman, April 21. MORE

CTF 150 Seizes $23 Million in Illegal Drugs in Indian Ocean April 21, 2023 — A partner-nation warship operating in support of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 seized illegal drugs worth a total estimated U.S street value of $23 million from a fishing vessel transiting international waters in the Indian Ocean, April 19. MORE

Unmanned Surface Vessel Transits Strait of Hormuz with U.S. Coast Guard April 19, 2023 — An unmanned surface vessel from U.S. 5th Fleet transited the Strait of Hormuz with two U.S. Coast Guard cutters, April 19, demonstrating the continued operational integration of unmanned and artificial intelligence systems by U.S. maritime forces in the Middle East. MORE

His Majesty the King of Bahrain Visits U.S. 5th Fleet Headquarters April 17, 2023 — His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited U.S. 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, April 16, 2023. MORE

U.S., France, UK Complete Counter-Mine Exercise in Arabian Gulf April 13, 2023 — Forces from France, the United Kingdom and the United States completed a two-week exercise in the Arabian Gulf, April 13, focused on countering mines. MORE