Q&A with USS Sirocco (PC 6) Commanding Officer January 20, 2022 — We recently spoke with the commanding officer of USS Sirocco (PC 6), a patrol coastal ship involved in a rescue operation in the Gulf of Oman in December. Sirocco’s crew safely rescued five mariners when their fishing vessel exploded. Sirocco is commanded by Lt. Cmdr. Brittany Lynn from Reidsville, North Carolina. Here are her thoughts on the rescue mission and her role as commanding officer. MORE

Record Seizures in 2021 after NAVCENT and CMF Increase Patrols January 18, 2022 — U.S. and international forces operating under U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) have seized record amounts of illicit cargo during maritime interdictions in 2021. MORE

USS Lewis B. Puller Credited With Saving Lives of Rescued Mariners January 9, 2022 — U.S. Navy personnel serving on expeditionary sea base platform ship USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) called upon their training and teamwork recently to save injured mariners in the Gulf of Oman. MORE

Readout of Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Vice Adm. Brad Cooper's Video Call with Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General H. E. Dr. Nayef Falah M. Al-Hajraf January 5, 2022 — Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, spoke with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General H. E. Dr. Nayef Falah M. Al-Hajraf during a video call, Jan. 4, reaffirming the U.S. Navy's strong partnership with the six GCC member-nations that border the Arabian Gulf. MORE

U.S. Navy Ships Interdict Heroin Worth $4 Million with International Task Force December 30, 2021 — Two U.S. Navy ships seized 385 kilograms of heroin worth approximately $4 million from a stateless fishing vessel transiting the Arabian Sea, Dec. 27. MORE

U.S. Navy Seizes 1,400 Assault Rifles During Illicit Weapons Interdiction December 22, 2021 — U.S. 5th Fleet ships seized approximately 1,400 AK-47 assault rifles and 226,600 rounds of ammunition from a stateless fishing vessel during a flag verification boarding in accordance with customary international law in the North Arabian Sea, Dec. 20. MORE

U.S. Navy Rescues Mariners Smuggling Illicit Drugs December 16, 2021 — U.S. Navy personnel rescued five mariners Dec. 15 after a fire caused an explosion aboard their vessel, which was smuggling illicit drugs while transiting the Gulf of Oman. MORE

USS Portland Tests High Energy Laser Weapon System in Gulf of Aden December 15, 2021 — Amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland (LPD 27) conducted a high-energy laser weapon system demonstration, Dec. 14, while sailing in the Gulf of Aden. MORE

NAVCENT Launches Saildrone in Gulf of Aqaba for Exercise Digital Horizon December 13, 2021 — U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) began operationally testing a new unmanned surface vessel (USV) in the Gulf of Aqaba, Dec. 12, as part of an initiative to integrate new unmanned systems and artificial intelligence into U.S. 5th Fleet operations. MORE

U.S. Navy Opens New Interagency Counter Narcotics Facility in Bahrain December 8, 2021 — Leaders from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 8 at Naval Support Activity Bahrain for a new facility that will enable interagency partners to share information for countering drug trafficking in the Middle East region. MORE