Saudi Navy Begins Landing Exercise in Straits of Hormuz

In what appears to be a simulated amphibious assault on a hostile beach, Saudi Arabia today commenced a naval exercise in the straits of Hormuz called Gulf Shield 1.

Photographs released by the Saudi Press Agency show light amphibious assault vehicles being driven out of landing ships and soldiers coming of these vehicles in battle formation.

Warships, air navy aircraft, Marine Corps, speed boats and special security naval units are participating in maneuvers taking place in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil route, and the Sea of Oman, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The exercise is a retaliation to the recent attack on military supply ship under lease to the United Emirates by Houthis near the Bab al-Mandab strait off Yemen’s southern coast with a missile on Saturday.  Arab coalition forces have launched operations against the militia boats of the Houti group.

“Armed forces destroyed with a missile a military vessel belonging to the forces of the UAE,” a military official was quoted as saying by the Saba Yemeni news agency last Saturday.

The vessel, an Australian-built logistics catamaran was leased out to United Arab Emirates military. The coalition rescued its civilian passengers. No crew were hurt.

The Houthis said on Saturday, however, that their forces had destroyed a UAE military vessel that was advancing towards the Red Sea port of Al-Mokha.