US sends F-16 fighters to Persian Gulf to fend off Iranian ship seizures

Fox News ^ | July 16, 2023 | Michael Lee

[McGruff]

The U.S. is sending F-16 fighter jets to the Persian Gulf region to help protect ships from Iranian seizures in the Strait of Hormuz.

The F-16 fighters were expected to arrive in the region over the weekend to augment A-10 attack aircraft that have been patrolling the Strait of Hormuz to deter Iranian ship seizures for more than a week, a defense official told the Associated Press.

The move comes a little more than week after Iran attempted to seize two oil tankers near the strait, according to the U.S. Navy, opening fire on one of the tankers and only retreating when a U.S. guided missile destroyer arrived on the scene.

[SaveFerris]

I was thinking the A-10 would work well.

The F-16 could get to the target area much quicker, of course.

[Robert357]

I hope that a joint attack force of US, UK, Indian and Japanese aircraft and warships completely destroy the Iranian naval forces.

[Paul R.]

The F-16’s can also nicely cover / defend the A-10’s.

[SaveFerris]

Absolutely

[Justa]

Iran - another despotic Might=Right regime. In this case engaging in high seas banditry.

Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, etc. All the KGB-run states are despotic, brutal, thieving S-holes.

[Mark17]

The F-16 could get to the target area much quicker, of course.

A-10s have a bigger gun. (30 mm, as opposed to 20mm) 😆😊 They will probably need aerial refueling too.

[Chickensoup]

Whose ships??

[SaveFerris]

Do we still have CentCom in Qatar?

I’m guessing refueling from their - or did we have something in Bahrain?

[SauronOfMordor]

“Deterrence” in the form of patrols won’t work as well as just sinking any Iranian Navy ship which attempts to molest any tanker.

[MattMusson]

Defending Chinese Oil.

[DesertRhino]

Maybe we should stop seizing their tankers too. DC is angry that Iran and the Saudis have buried the hatchet. We are trying to get something lit off.

[trebb]

And what has emboldened them?

[4Runner]

Yes of course. Defend Saudi Arabian oil supplies at all costs. The trillionaire Muslim family fortunes must be protected. Remember Obama bowing at the Princes and King Faisals?

[dforest]

It is a shame we never hear the whole story anymore.

[Mark17]

Do we still have CentCom in Qatar?

Tankers are flying out of Qatar, but I don’t know if they are flying out of other places. My son was TDY to the Middle East, and the tankers were NOT flying from his base.

[Mark17]

And what has emboldened them?

I don’t know, the Richard head in the white hut maybe?

[Bookshelf]

What difference will they make if attack can only be approved by the White House?

[Old Yeller]

Turn up the nuclear heat some more.

[Old Yeller]

Mea culpa. Wrong war.