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Pentagon says Iranian flotilla a factor leading to boosted U.S. warship deployment off Yemen

An EA-18G Growler launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) with the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) alongside during maritime security operations in the Arabian Sea in this U.S. Navy photo taken Tuesday. The Roosevelt and Normandy will join seven other U.S. warships near Yemen, which is torn by civil strife as Iranian-backed Houthi rebels battle forces loyal to the U.S.-backed president. The warships are also keeping tabs on an Iranian flotilla that may be trying to bring arms to the Houthis. | REUTERS

Reuters

Apr 22, 2015

WASHINGTON –

The Pentagon said on Tuesday the presence of a large convoy of Iranian cargo ships in the Arabian Sea was one factor in the U.S. decision to deploy additional warships in the waters off war-torn Yemen but was not the primary reason for the move.

Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, also said he did not believe Navy warships patrolling the region had been in direct contact with the Iranian flotilla of nine cargo ships.

Warren dismissed reports the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and cruiser USS Normandy had been deployed to the region to intercept Iranian ships carrying arms to Iranian-backed Houthi rebels fighting forces loyal to the U.S.-backed Yemeni president.

Pentagon says Iranian flotilla a factor leading to boosted U.S. warship deployment off Yemen

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