Syria

First Marine F-35B Combat Deployment Hints at New Roles for Amphibious Ready Group

An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), prepares to land aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), while another F-35B Lightning II flies over on Dec. 4, 2018. US Marine Corps Photo

After eight months at sea with a squadron of F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighters, the Marines and the Navy are seeing how the next-generation aircraft will expand the effectiveness of U.S. amphibious forces.

The Essex Amphibious...

https://news.usni.org/2019/02/27/first-marine-f-35b-combat-deployment-hints-at-new-roles-for-amphibious-ready-group

Votel: U.S. Still Needs to Keep Pressure on ISIS After Syria Exit

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment watch an illumination round in the distance that was fired from their M777 Howitzer for an indirect fire mission in Southwest Asia on Dec. 2, 2018. US Army Photo

The U.S.- led military coalition needs to keep military pressure on the Islamic State even after the American withdrawal from Syria. And the U.S. needs to be prepared to still provide $4 billion yearly to Kabul after a troop drawdown in Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command commander...

https://news.usni.org/2019/02/05/votel-u-s-will-still-substantial-military-obligation-syria-afghanistan-drawdown

Sailor Among Those Killed in ISIS Attack in Syria

A sailor was one of four Americans killed in an ISIS suicide bombing attack in Manbij, Syria, the Navy announced on Friday.

Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Shannon M. Kent, 35, was killed along with three other Americans who were at a restaurant popular with U.S. forces when the ISIS attack occurred on Wednesday.

Kent was assigned to Cryptologic Warfare Activity 66 (CWA 66), based at Ft. George G. Mead, Md. and was deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

“Our thoughts and...

https://news.usni.org/2019/01/18/sailor-among-killed-isis-attack-syria

DP World to enable Syria-Jordan trade

Global trade enabler DP World has helped establish a 2,500 km long transport corridor from Jebel Ali to the Naseeb-Jaber border crossing between Jordan and Syria.

Trucks loaded with goods at its flagship Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone in the UAE have travelled through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon in close collaboration with all customs authorities and customers.

The Naseeb-Jaber crossing was once one of the busiest checkpoints on the Damascus-Amman international highway and is the main...

http://container-news.com/dp-world-syria-jordan-trade/

It’s the Capes stupid

John Faraclas

The BDI  (Baltic Dry Index) gained 11 points and now stands at 1,282 thanks to the as ever volatile Capes… Looks a “positive” start for the New Year but reality bites as all other indices – Dry and Wet are in red! Geopolitics as expected turn sour; John Faraclas’ brief recap:

The culprits of the Dry Market the Capes saw the BCI  gaining 82 points and now standing at 1,987 raises too many eyebrows… We hope all other indices go well as this time if things continue we will see...

http://www.allaboutshipping.co.uk/2019/01/02/its-the-capes-stupid/

Top Stories 2018: Navy Operations

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) as the ship transits the Strait of Gibraltar on Dec. 4, 2018. US Navy Photo

USNI News polled its writers, naval analysts and service members on what they consider the most important military and maritime stories in 2018.

If 2018 made anything clear, it’s that the U.S. Navy noticed the increased Russian submarine activity in the Atlantic and won’t let it go unaddressed.

Much of the U.S. Navy’s major activities this year were focused on the Atlantic Ocean, on NATO allies...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/26/top-stories-2018-navy-operations

U.S. Carrier in Middle East Focused on Missions Over Afghanistan, Maritime Security

Sailors huddle to communicate as an F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151 launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in the Arabian Sea on Dec. 18, 2018. US Navy Photo

Afghanistan – not Syria – has been the primary focus of the air wing embarked aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) since the carrier strike group entered U.S. 5th Fleet in early December, USNI News has learned.

As of Thursday morning, the Stennis Carrier Strike...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/20/u-s-carrier-in-middle-east-focused-on-missions-over-afghanistan-maritime-security

Greece seizes drugs from Syrian freighter

The Greek Coast Guard confiscated six tons of cannabis and about three million “Captagon” amphetamine pills, inside a Syrian freighter, in the Port of Heraklion, Crete. The ship was heading to Libya and was intercepted by off Crete on December 5.

Greece has seized drugs worth more than 100 million euros ($113 million) after intercepting a Syrian ship sailing for Libya, according to Greek Coast Guard.

Officials found about six tonnes of processed cannabis and 3 million “Captagon” amphetamine pills...

https://safety4sea.com/greece-seizes-drugs-from-syrian-freighter/

US issues notice for petroleum shipments to Syria

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued an advisory notice concerning the risks of transporting petroleum shipments to Syria. OFAC warns that such actions could breach U.S. sanctions.

OFAC advises, in the strongest terms, against the carriage and supply of such cargoes to the Syrian Government or any other Specially Designated National (SDN).

Acting this way would be in breach of U.S. sanctions and would potentially open the carrier to the full force of penalties from the U.S....

https://safety4sea.com/us-issues-notice-for-petroleum-shipments-to-syria/

US warns about oil shipments to Syria

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has identified nine targets in an international network through which Iran, working with Russian companies, provide barrels of oil to Syria.

US sanctions prohibit material support to Syria. Namely, all assets subject to US jurisdiction of the individuals and entities added to the Specially Designated Nationals List (SDN List), and of any other entities blocked by operation of law due to sanctions, are frozen, while US...

https://safety4sea.com/us-warns-about-oil-shipments-to-syria/

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