Gaza - Israel Conflict ~ Naval Aspects

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Ministry of Defence
G.B. is supporting international efforts to ensure more aid can reach Gaza by sea, with rfa cardigan bay sailing to the eastern Mediterranean to assist.
hms diamond provided an escort through the Red Sea, where she remains to defend against Houthi attacks on civilian shipping.

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OSINTdefender
Two U.S. Officials have told CNN that Forces across the Middle East, including U.S. Navy Ships in the Eastern Mediterranean and Northern Red Sea, will attempt to Intercept any Weapon that is launched against Israel if it is feasible to do so.


OSINTdefender reposted
Faytuks News
"Two U.S. officials said that Iran has readied more than a hundred cruise missiles for a possible strike" - ABC News
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-aver ... =109148108


OSINTdefender
U.K. Royal Navy Officials has stated they currently have No Plans to conduct Air Defense Operations off the Coast of Israel alongside the U.S. Navy.

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US changes ‘force posture’ over ‘imminent’ threat of Iran attacking Israel

Aircraft carrier deployed alongside cruiser and two destroyers sails north through Red Sea as US increases presence in its Middle East bases

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/ ... ck-israel/

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Iran launches attack on Israel

As part of an attack against Israel, the country of Iran has launched a wave of drones.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel’s armed forces were ready.
“I established a clear principle – whoever hurts us, we hurt him. We will protect ourselves from any threat and we will do so with coolness and determination.”
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/iran-la ... on-israel/

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Israel-Gaza live updates: Iran begins retaliatory attack against Israel

https://abcnews.go.com/International/li ... =108860743

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RFA Cardigan Bay has arrived alongside in Limassol Cyprus ostensibly to support planned humanitarian aid operation in Gaza.
Following last night's events, Govt says Royal Marines are ready to mount evacuation of British citizens living in the Middle East, should the situation deteriorate.

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Navy Lookout
US Navy warships in the Eastern Mediterranean shot down three Iranian ballistic missiles during operations last night. More than 70 drones aimed at Israel were intercepted by USN ships and aircraft.
AEGIS destroyers in the Eastern Med: USS Arleigh Burke, Carney, Roosevelt and Bulkeley.

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U.S. Central Command

Defense of Israel Activities Update

On April 13 and the morning of April 14, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, supported by U.S. European Command destroyers, successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six ballistic missiles intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen.

This includes a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle and seven UAVs destroyed on the ground in Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen prior to their launch.

Iran's continued unprecedented, malign, and reckless behavior endangers regional stability and the safety of U.S. and coalition forces.

CENTCOM remains postured to support Israel’s defense against these dangerous actions by Iran. We will continue to work with all our regional partners to increase regional security.

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Laser Rocket Anti-Drone Systems Being Rushed To U.S. Forces In The Middle East

The Navy put in an order for new Electronic Advanced Ground Launcher System just ahead of Iran’s missile and drone strikes on Israel.

The U.S. Navy recently put in a rush order for new counter-drone systems that use laser-guided 70mm rockets as their effectors to help defend American forces in the Middle East. The Electronic Advanced Ground Launcher System (EAGLS) is very similar in form and function to U.S.-supplied VAMPIREs that Ukrainians are now using in combat. The purchase of the EAGLS came just days ahead of Iran's unprecedented missile and drone strikes on Israel, which have only added to long-standing concerns about uncrewed aerial and other threats to U.S. forces in the region.

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced on April 12 that it had awarded a firm-fixed-price contract with a not-to-exceed value of $24,186,464 to MSI Defense Solutions for the purchase of five EAGLS Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS). This sole-source deal also includes various ancillary items and training support.

EAGLS uses laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Killer Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets, as seen in the video below, to knock down drones.

Continues https://www.twz.com/land/laser-rocket-a ... iddle-east

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US Navy ship on way to Gaza forced to turn back due to engine room fire, spokesperson says

A US Navy ship en route to the eastern Mediterranean to help the US military set up a pier for aid to Gaza had to turn back last week after experiencing a fire, a Navy spokesperson told CNN.

The ship, the USNS 2nd LT John P. Bobo, reported last Thursday that it had experienced a fire in the engine room while in transit to the eastern Mediterranean to deliver equipment and personnel, the spokesperson said.

It is not clear how the delay will affect the construction of the floating pier and causeway, which the Pentagon has said is expected to be operational by late April or early May.

“The crew evacuated the area and used portable extinguishers to put out the fire. All ship’s crew and military personnel are accounted for, and no injuries were reported,” the spokesperson said.
“The ship returned under its own power using one engine to Jacksonville, Fla., for further assessment. The cause of the fire is under investigation.”

The ship is one of several US Navy ships and Army watercraft that are en route to the waters off of Gaza to help build the pier, and is a support vessel rather than a key component of the construction of the system, called Joint Logistics over the Shore, or JLOTS.

The Pentagon said on March 8* that the pier would be built and operational within 60 days, and Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder says that timeline is still on track.

* https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/08/poli ... index.html

Source https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live ... 8cea88da4a Which contains other articles sourced today on the main topic - Izrael etc.