New US task force ships enter Arabian Sea area

The United States has beefed up its seaborne forces in the Iran-Afghanistan from the Seventh Fleet, according to US Defense Department sources. Four amphibious task force ships carrying 1,800 US marines as well as the guided missile cruiser Gridley and the frigates Barbey and Francis Hammond entered the Indian Ocean March 16 en route to the Arabian Sea.They will join the task force, including two aircraft carriers already there.

The new group brings to 31 the number of US warships and approximately 24,000 the number of US sailors and marines deployed in the Indian Ocean, reports Monitor corresspondent John K. Cooley.