OUR N E W   W E B   S I T E   "WORLD AIR FORCE NEWS"
 
  
 
 

WORLD AIR WAR HISTORY


 
  HOME > What's New? >

US Navy pulls two aircraft carriers from Syria shores

US Navy pulls two aircraft carriers from Syria shores

Two aircraft carriers stationed off the Syrian coast were sent back to the US this week in a move that the Obama administration thought would ease tensions, but angered Turkish officials who hoped for significant US military presence in the region.

The USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier and the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and its 2,500 marines were recalled after being stationed on the Syrian coast, allegedly in preparation of potential military invasion.

The USS Eisenhower, which has the capacity to hold thousands of men, joined the other warship during the first week of December, ready to launch an American-led military intervention “within days” if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were to use chemical weapons against the opposition, Time reported. But as the violence escalated in the past few days, the warships took off and headed back to the US.

The US usually has two aircraft carriers stationed in the Persian Gulf at all times, but will only have one deployed this month – the USS John C. Stennis, which is stationed nowhere near Syria. By recalling the USS Eisenhower and the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, the US simply outraged its key ally in the region – Turkey.

An unnamed senior Turkish officer told Israel's DEBKAfile that America’s removal of the aircraft carriers is “hard to understand and unacceptable to Ankara.” Turkey became one of the main opponents of the Assad regime on the international stage and fears that the Syrian missiles with chemical weapons might be used against it. Syria never recognized that it has a chemical stockpile. Nevertheless Syrian officials repeatedly said that their country would never use such weapons "even if they had them."

None of Syria’s neighbors, which include Turkey, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel, have officially criticized the Obama administration for its recall of its naval forces, but unnamed officials told DEBKAfile that Turkish officials are very upset about the move.

According to the Israeli news outlet, Washington hoped to “to appease the Turks” by sending to the region US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to sign a deployment order for the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System, which would be stationed at the Syrian border. While Panetta visited Turkey on Friday, the defense secretary allegedly visited an air base where US strike aircraft are stationed alongside Turkish warplanes.

But the US attempt to ease tensions and calm Turkey had little effect: Turkish officials remain outraged at the US abandonment at a time when violence with its neighbor has escalated and relations with Iran and Syria are at its worst.

Meanwhile the deployment of the Patriot missile interceptors has escalated tensions between Turkey and Iran. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad canceled a trip to Turkey for an annual ceremony this week, claiming the missile interceptors might lead to a “world war.”


Source: RT News - 18 December 2012

Photo: The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN69)


(18.12.2012)


 
  CONTINENTAL NEWS:

American Air Force News
African Air Force News
Asian Air Force News
European Air Force News
Middle Eastern AF News
Ocean Air Force News


• After 60 years, Chinook keeps getting better

(1.09.2021)
This month marks 60 years since the Chinook prototype took to the skies, setting the stage for the rotorcraft’s eventual dominance in heavy-lift heroics....>>

• USAF 416th FLTS, AFRL Tests “Gray Wolf” Cruise Missile

(14.07.2020)
The USAF 416th Flight Test Squadron recently completed a round of tests of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s “Gray Wolf” prototype cruise missile at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif...>>

• Canadian Air Force accepts first new SAR plane despite issue with manuals

(24.12.2019)
The Canadian military has accepted the first of 16 new search-and-rescue (SAR) planes despite outstanding issues with the aircraft’s manuals....>>

• Air Force Technology’s 2019 year in review

(24.12.2019)
The world’s Air Forces in 2019 began to try and get a firm grasp on space, while contracts were handed to make missiles faster and of course the F-35 continued to make headlines. ...>>

• Robinson R66 Turbine Surpasses 1 Million Flight Hours

(24.09.2019)
Robinson Helicopter Company announced the R66 Turbine fleet surpassed 1,000,000 flight hours...>>

• Sikorsky Receives Contract To Build Presidential Helicopters

(10.06.2019)
VH-92A helicopters to be built at Connecticut and New York plants; Deliveries begin in 2021....>>

• Sikorsky Receives Contract To Build 12 CH-53K for USMC

(17.05.2019)
12 CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopters to be built at Connecticut plant with deliveries beginning in 2022. ...>>

 



       info@xairforces.net Webmaster: REFLX DESIGN - © 2011 xairforces / Aviation Society,