U.S. amphibious warfare ships head for Persian Gulf

PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. have deployed a marine expeditionary unit and a group of landing warships, including the Makin Island groups and the USS New Orleans and Pearl Harbor amphibious transport dock ships, to the Persian Gulf, a U.S. Navy representative stated Wednesday, January 10.

The sailors, marines and airmen aboard the ships will be reinforced by a general support battalion and attack helicopters. They are to replace U.S. warships and Navy troops who have been patrolling the area for the last 10 months.

The situation in the region is tense as Iran is threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit route for the world's oil supply in response to its oil export ban, The Voice of Russia reported.