US to deploy F-16 fighter jets to protect ships from Iranian seizures in Gulf region

Washington, July 15

The US is beefing up its use of fighter jets around the strategic Strait of Hormuz to protect ships from Iranian seizures, a senior defence official said on Friday, adding the US was increasingly concerned about the growing ties between Iran, Russia and Syria across West Asia.

Speaking to Pentagon reporters, the official said the US would send F-16 fighter jets to the Gulf region to augment the A-10 attack aircraft that have been patrolling there for more than a week. The move comes after Iran tried to seize two oil tankers near the strait last week, opening fire on one of them.

The defence official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details of military operations in the region, said the F-16s would give air cover to the ships moving through the waterway and increase the military’s visibility in the area, as a deterrent to Iran. The US navy said in both instances the Iranian naval vessels backed off when the USS McFaul, a guided-missile destroyer, arrived on the scene. In addition, the defence official told reporters the US is considering a number of military options to address increasing Russian aggression in the skies over Syria, which complicated efforts to strike an Islamic State group leader last weekend.

The official declined to detail the options, but said the US would not cede any territory and would continue to fly in the western part of the country on anti-Islamic State missions.

The Russian military activity, which has increased in frequency and aggression since March, stems from growing cooperation and coordination between Moscow, Tehran and the Syrian government to try to pressure the US to leave Syria, the official said. The official said Russia was beholden to Iran for its support in the war in Ukraine, and Tehran wants the US out of Syria so it can more easily move lethal aid to Lebanese Hezbollah and threaten Israel. The US has seen more cooperation, collaboration, planning and intelligence sharing, largely between mid-level Russian and Iranian Quds force leaders in Syria, to pressure the US to remove troops from Syria, the official added.

There are about 900 US forces in the country, and others move in and out to conduct missions targeting Islamic State group militants. — AP

A-10 attack aircraft on patrol for over a week

• The US would send F-16 fighter jets to the Gulf region to augment the A-10 attack aircraft that have been patrolling there for more than a week
• The move comes after Iran tried to impound two oil tankers near the strait last week, opening fire on one of them
• The F-16s would give air cover to the ships moving through the waterway and increase the military’s visibility in the area as a deterrent to Iran

US-Iran faceoff in Strait of Hormuz

July 5, 2023 US navy says Iran tried to seize two oil tankers near the Strait, opening fire on one of them

July 2019 USS Boxer destroys an Iranian drone in the Strait after it threatens a US navy ship but Iran denies it has lost an air vehicle

June 2019 Iran shoots down a US drone. In another incident, two tankers attacked in south of the Strait which Washington blames on Iran; Tehran denies

May Four ships, including two Saudi oil tankers, are attacked in the Gulf just outside the Strait. US officials blame Iran, Tehran denies the charges

July 2018 President Hassan Rouhani (then) hints Iran could disrupt oil trade through the Strait in response to US calls to reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero

January 2012 Iran threatens to block the Strait in retaliation for US and European sanctions aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear programme

Early 2008 The United States says Iranian vessels threaten three US navy ships in the Strait