Royal Saudi Navy Transfers Command of Middle East Task Force to UK Royal Navy January 18, 2023 — During an indoor ceremony at the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain, Jan. 18, United Kingdom’s Royal Navy assumed command of a multinational task force led by the Royal Saudi Naval Forces since July. MORE

U.S., Bahrain Launch Annual Maritime Security Exercise January 15, 2023 — Military personnel from the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain began a 10-day naval exercise Jan. 15 in and off the coast of Bahrain. MORE

U.S. Navy Intercepts More Than 2,000 Assault Rifles Shipped from Iran January 10, 2023 — U.S. naval forces intercepted a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Oman, Jan. 6, and discovered it smuggling 2,116 AK-47 assault rifles while transiting international waters along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen. MORE

IMSC Task Force Completes Maritime Exercise with Unmanned Systems, A.I. January 9, 2023 — The International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) completed a three-day maritime exercise in the Arabian Gulf, Jan. 9, integrating unmanned systems and artificial intelligence during a naval drill for the second time in six months. MORE

French Warship Seizes Illegal Drugs in North Arabian Sea January 3, 2023 — A French warship seized illegal drugs worth a total estimated U.S. street value of $24 million from a fishing vessel transiting international waters in the North Arabian Sea, Dec. 27. MORE

U.S., Regional Partners Form Multinational Boarding Team in Middle East December 16, 2022 — U.S. 5th Fleet completed a two-week multinational vessel boarding integration event, Dec. 15, with regional nations in the Middle East. MORE

Task Force 59 Completes Digital Horizon Event December 15, 2022 — U.S. 5th Fleet concluded Digital Horizon, Dec. 15, a three-week unmanned and artificial intelligence event in Bahrain that involved 17 industry partners. MORE

U.S. Service Members Volunteer at a Bahrain Learning Center December 13, 2022 — U.S. service members stationed in Bahrain volunteered at a local learning center, Dec. 12, during a community service event. MORE

Egypt Takes Command of International Red Sea Task Force December 12, 2022 — The U.S. Navy turned over command of a newly formed international Red Sea task force to the Egyptian Navy, Dec. 12, during a ceremony in Bahrain where the multinational staff is headquartered. MORE

U.S., Iraq, Kuwait Conduct 2nd Joint Patrol in Arabian Gulf December 12, 2022 — Maritime forces from Iraq, Kuwait and the United States completed a joint patrol in the Arabian Gulf, Dec. 11, representing the second time in four months the three nations sailed together to promote regional maritime security. MORE