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This is new and disturbing news:
The blogger Eagle1 who has specialized in maritime security and has a strong connection to US Navy and Us juridical sources bloged that there is a potential terrorist threat to the ships in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
A terrorist threat is currently applying on vessels located in the eastern Mediterranean, East of longitude 033°30’E.
Ships are urged to remain alert, travel at higher speeds and avoid closing small craft.
Although he does not mention his source for this warning explicitly, he says that it is reliable. The lack of precise information about the type and source of the threat does not help us to grasp the significance of the situation.
The area mentioned in this warning covers the whole coast of Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Plus it covers the Port of Mersin and Bay of Iskenderun. The importance of Bay of Iskenderun is increasing everyday as it is becoming a main energy hub. Two weeks ago the one billionth barrel of oil was pumped from Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) and was loaded on the 1275th tanker – the Nippon Princess.
The port is Mersin is one of the major ports of Eastern Med and is a natural gateway to Southeast Anatolia and to Iraq.
Turkish Navy started the Operation Mediterranean Shield since April 2006. The main operational aims of Operation Mediterranean Shield are:
– To establish transportation safety of inbound and outbound tankers to Ceyhan Oil terminal and indirectly contributing to global energy security
– To ensure deterrence against possible risks and threats in the region
– To support the regional maritime safety efforts of NATO
Thus I hope that this warning is not directed to Turkey.
The more information we will get about this situation the more complete will our situational awareness.
devrimyaylali.com 