Hormuz Strait blockade, 15 US warships on alert in the Middle East
JAKARTA - The United States Navy (US) has at least 15 warships that can participate in the US military blockade of ships entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf.
A US official told CNN that as many as 15 warships, including aircraft carriers and destroyers, were on alert in the Middle East to block traffic in the Strait of Hormuz at the behest of US President Donald Trump.
However, it was not explained in detail where the US warships were located and which fleet was involved in the blockade.
However, the US Navy's military equipment is confirmed to be spread across the US Central Command (US Central Command/CENTCOM) operation area.
The ships include:
Aircraft carriers:
USS Abraham Lincoln
Destroyers:
USS Bainbridge
USS Thomas Hudner
USS Frank E. Petersen Jr.
USS Delbert D. Black
USS John Finn
USS Michael Murphy
USS Mitscher
USS Pinckney
USS Rafael Peralta
USS Spruance
USS Milius
Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group
USS Tripoli:
USS New Orleans
USS Rushmore
Prior to last week's ceasefire, the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, which participated in the US-Israeli war against Iran, was moved to Greece for repairs last month.
However, according to a public tracker by USNI News, the USS Gerald R. Ford has been operating in the eastern Mediterranean.
The ship is reportedly to join several other US destroyers and support vessels, but needs to pass through the Suez Canal or exit the Mediterranean, and circle Africa before finally joining the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.