Royal Navy to deploy carrier task force in Gulf waters in early 2008
05 Nov 2007
London: The UK ministry of defence has said that a Royal Navy aircraft carrier task force would be deployed in the Gulf waters in early 2008, but took care to deny that its deployment was linked with any possible military action against Iran.
According to a ministry spokesman, the carrier HMS Illustrious would head for the Gulf accompanied by a Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh and a Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster. Also involved in Operation Orion 08 will be two minesweepers and three support vessels from the Royal Fleet Auxilliary.
"There is going to be a deployment east of Suez," the spokesman was quoted as saying by AFP. According to the report, the spokesman claimed that the deployment was routine and was planned one or two years ago. He insisted that it had nothing to do with Iran.
According to the spokesman the task force will sail in the Gulf, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea for about six months, with the operation designed to demonstrate Britain''s commitment to maritime security and ability to work with other world navies, he added.
Meanwhile,
analysts are pointing out that the deployment of the task force in such sensitive
waters coincides with a crucial period in the West''s confrontation with Iran over
its disputed nuclear programme. They say that next year spring is the last possible
moment for President George Bush to order a military strike against Iran, as the
onset of America''s presidential election season in 2008 may make it impossible
for Washington to carry out an attack later.
