British navy suspends boarding operations in northern Gulf

[Scurrilous]

Source: Earthtimes

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"The British navy has suspended all boarding operations of cargo vessels in the northern Gulf while a complete review of the practice is under way following the capture - and release - of 15 navy personnel by Iran, it was confirmed Friday. The head of the British Navy, Admiral Jonathon Band, said in a BBC interview that the boarding operations of merchant vessels suspected of illegal cargo had been suspended while a "complete review" of the incident which led to the sailors being seized is carried out.

The admiral rejected allegations that such operations were directed against Iran, and said they were conducted to control criminal activity, such as smuggling and the transport of suspect cargo, including weapons and drugs.

Britain would review the rules of engagement for such operations, he said, following criticism that the eight sailors and seven Royal Marines had been ill-equipped to defend themselves, and that their patrol boats were a great distance away from their mother ship, HMS Cornwall.

The admiral said that such search operations off the coast of southern Iraq were being carried out under a United Nations mandate, and that both US and Australian forces would continue the practice."



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