Egyptian Navy assumes command of Combined Maritime Force 153 in Red Sea

CAIRO – 13 December 2022: The spokesperson of the Egyptian Armed Forces announced Tuesday that the Egyptian Navy had assumed the command of the Combined Maritime Force 153 (CMF), whose mission is combating illegal activities, particularly terrorism and smuggling, in the Red Sea, Bab El Mendeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.

The CMF includes the forces of the United States, neighboring states, and allied countries. The spokesperson affirmed that the CMF is one of the major joint mechanisms that would reinforce security, regional stability, and counter all types of challenges.

"Egypt assumes the command of the CMF out of its pivotal role, and close cooperation with the naval forces of participant states to secure the navigation of ships through international waterways, and counter all types of organized crime that negatively impact global trade," the spokesperson noted.