On Saturday, August 6, Marines and sailors arrived in the Middle East in order to deter Iran from seizing and taunting merchant ships in the nearby Strait of Hormuz. The 3,000 soldiers and sailors boarded the USS Carter Hall and then transferred to the USS Bataan for the amphibious assault.
Last month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the move to stop Iran’s show of force. “Since 2021, Iran has harassed, attacked or seized nearly 20 internationally flagged merchant vessels, presenting a clear threat to regional maritime security and the global economy,” the Navy stated in July. The Iranians declared that they thought they were answering distress calls. However, the Navy reported that Iran had attempted to confiscate two commercial oil tanks in the Gulf of Oman.
The United States is willing to offer protection to ships by using U.S. flags and carrying U.S. citizens, or cargo to or from the United States. The government is now waiting for shipping companies to request protection.