Breve / web review – Since the October 7th attacks by Hamas, many nations are confronted with ripple effects domestically, but also internationally.

The US and coalition armed forces have been in particular the targets of renewed attacks in both Irak and Syria. According to a statement by Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary on November 21st:

“U.S. forces have been attacked approximately 66 times since October 17th, 32 separate times in Iraq and 34 separate times in Syria. U.S. personnel have sustained approximately 62 injuries but this does not include any injuries from last night’s attack as they are still being evaluated.”[1]

Since then, the number of attacks against US and coalition forces has gone up till 73, triggering Washington to activate four retaliatory strikes while trying to avoid an extension of the conflict beyond Gaza.[2]

The US Navy has indeed beefed up its presence in the region with the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group in the Persian Gulf (see US CENTCOM statement on X on November 26th below):

“On Nov. 26, the Carrier Strike Group Eisenhower (IKECSG) completed a transit of the Strait of Hormuz to enter the waters of the Arabian Gulf as the Strike Group continues to support USCENTCOM missions.
While in the Arabian Gulf, the IKECSG are patrolling to ensure freedom of navigation in key international waterways while supporting CENTCOM requirements throughout the region.
The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) was accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely (DDG 107) and the USS Stethem (DDG 63) and the French frigate Languedoc (D 653).”[3]

Counter-measures have included for example the shooting down down of drone attacks coming from Houthi rebels[4] , while acts of maritime piracy off the coasts of Yemen, although not news, have indeed also been picking up against Israeli-linked interests, the latest being the attack of the tanker “M/V Central Park”, which also triggered an intervention by the US Navy:

“The U.S. military’s Central Command said in a statement early Monday that its forces and allies, including the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Mason, responded to the seizure and demanded the armed assailants release the tanker.”[5]

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1 https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3596451/deputy-pentagon-press-secretary-ms-sabrina-singh-holds-a-press-briefing/
2 https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/24/politics/us-forces-attacked-iraq-syria-thanksgiving/index.html?
3 https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1728899895602679992
4 https://news.usni.org/2023/11/22/uss-thomas-hudner-downs-multiple-drones-launched-from-yemen
5 https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-yemen-ship-attack-526842504dc9f6bb7ca6e1d5104f77a3? ; https://news.usni.org/2023/11/26/u-s-warships-monitoring-potential-oil-tanker-seizure-in-gulf-of-aden ; https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/armed-individuals-seize-israeli-managed-oil-tanker-gulf-aden-us-official-2023-11-26/

Photo © Carrier Strike Group Eisenhower photo as published on X by US CENTCOM, November 26th, 2023