(Telegraph-UK) Ben Farmer - Naval forces from more than 41 countries gathered in Bahrain - across the Gulf from Iran - on Monday to prepare for a massive minesweeping exercise that will run until the end of May, the U.S. Fifth Fleet said. The International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX) "is the largest exercise of its kind in the region and will exercise a wide spectrum of defensive operations designed to protect international commerce and trade; mine countermeasures, maritime security operations and maritime infrastructure protection." IMCMEX took place for the first time last year at a time of Iranian threats to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
2013-05-13 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive