By Muslim Mirror Web
United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Israel and the US conducted their first naval exercise in the Red Sea. The five-day training began on Wednesday and engaged in several activities including boarding, search and seizure tactics.
This comes a year after the two Gulf states the Abraham Accords that seeks to normalise their relations with Israel. Following the signing of the agreement, there has been intense defence and diplomatic contacts between Israel and the Gulf Nations, including increasing concerns over Iran’s activities.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and UAE have been concerned about Iran and siding with Zionist forces such as Israel and the US to compete with the country. These countries have been giving Israel and the US opportunities to strengthen their presence in the Gulf region.
Iran, which recently announced its own naval exercises east of the Strait of Hormuz, strongly resents the presence of US and other Western navies in the Gulf region. Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, it has called on Gulf Arab states to expel US forces. But its suggestions have fallen on deaf ears, as all six Gulf Arab states continue to host US military facilities.
The military drills also come as a strong counter move to display consolidation of power in the Red Sea waterway. About six years after Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen failed to defeat Iran-backed Houthi rebels, Hezbollah in Lebanon has gained a stronger foothold than ever. Subsequently, Iran has also increased influence in both Iraq and Syria. Following this, over the years, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have targeted oil shipments through the Suez Canal, BBC reported.
Additionally, Iran’s nuclear program and the abandonment of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have constantly worried the Gulf Arab nations.
Surprisingly Gulf States are always worried about nuclear power of Iran but they never had a problem over Israel’s nuclear weapons.