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U.S.-Led Naval Coalition Protecting Gulf Oil Tankers Launches Operations
(Bloomberg) Verity Ratcliffe - The International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) - to protect ships transiting the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Bab el-Mandeb - was formally launched in response to a series of attacks on vessels and onshore facilities blamed on Iran. "Over the last six months, we have seen increased threats in these waters," said U.S. Vice Admiral James Malloy, commander of America's Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain. Frigates and destroyers will guard critical chokepoints and smaller vessels will patrol the seas, while airborne surveillance will monitor traffic through "high risk areas," the U.S. Navy said. Coalition members include the UK, Australia, Bahrain, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.