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Fleet protection and counterterrorism: European task force to deploy outside Iran

British Special Boat Service operators conduct an over-the-beach assault. (Image courtesy of Imperial War Museum).

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On July 19th the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero sailing in Omani waters through the Hormuz Strait was captured by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. The move came nearly two weeks after British Royal Marines Commandos seized an Iranian supertanker, near Gibraltar, believed to be carrying oil to Syria – a contravention of European Union sanctions.

Britain responded by advising all British-flagged shipping to avoid the Strait. It also dispatched HMS Duncan, a Type 45 guided-missile destroyer, in the area (to replace HMS Montrose), and tasked it with protecting navigation through the Strait.

HMS Duncan is outfitted with Harpoon missiles that give it significant anti-ship capabilities. These could come handy in case Iranian vessels attempt another seizure of British or European ships. Moreover, HMS Duncan carries a contingent of Royal Marines and can also accommodate further forces in the form of Special Boat Service (SBS) operators.

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Comments

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  • Avatar
    Stavros Atlamazoglou

    Michael, At this point, they seem like two different initiatives. Based on Trump's shunning of EU diplomats and the difference of opinion between Washington and Brussels regarding Iran, I'd predict that EU leaders would like to keep a possible EU naval task force independent.

  • Avatar
    Michael T

    Any postulation on how this deployment, if it happens, would work with and/or through, the beefed up U.S. commitment to securing safe passage of all commercial vessels through the Gulf and the Strait?