Egypt’s navy to lead new Red Sea maritime task force

The US Navy will hand over command of Task Force 153 to Egypt as the Pentagon aims to enable regional militaries to take on new roles
A picture taken on Aug. 10, 2018 during a trip in Yemen organized by the UAE's National Media Council (NMC) shows a view of Yemeni fishing boats along the Yemeni side of the strategic strait of Bab al-Mandab, which separates the Arabian Peninsula from east Africa.
A picture taken on Aug. 10, 2018 during a trip in Yemen organized by the UAE's National Media Council (NMC) shows a view of Yemeni fishing boats along the Yemeni side of the strategic strait of Bab al-Mandab, which separates the Arabian Peninsula from east Africa. - KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images
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Jared Szuba
@JM_Szuba

Egypt will assume leadership of a new multinational task force patrolling the waters of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in November, the Pentagon confirmed on Monday.

The head of all US forces in the Middle East, Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, met with top Egyptian military officials in Cairo and lauded their plans to take the helm of the new Combined Task Force 153.

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