By using ECSS site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
ECSS - Egyptian Center for Strategic StudiesECSS - Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies
  • Home
  • International Relations
    International Relations
    Show More
    Top News
    Egyptian-Greek Trade Relations to Prepare for the Next Step
    September 1, 2020
    Iran’s nuclear program: New contexts and possible scenarios
    April 17, 2021
    The Sino-Australian Rising Rivalry in the Indo-Pacific
    October 16, 2021
    Latest News
    Looking West: India’s Strategy and Relations with Egypt
    February 4, 2023
    Messages from the Polisario Front’s 16th Congress
    February 1, 2023
    A Trump Card: Morocco Maximizes Benefit from Phosphate Amid Ukraine War
    January 31, 2023
    Engaging in Brinkmanship: Scenarios for Escalation in the Korean Peninsula
    January 12, 2023
  • Defense & Security
    Defense & Security
    Show More
    Top News
    Israel’s Cyber ​​Dome: Hallmarks and Motives
    Israel’s Cyber ​​Dome: Hallmarks and Motives
    August 15, 2022
    A Multi-dimensional Affair: Women and Terrorism in Africa
    June 14, 2020
    Messages of military drills: Is the region on the brink of a new war?
    April 5, 2021
    Latest News
    Reasons and Ramifications of Al-Shabaab’s Retreat from its Positions
    January 30, 2023
    Task Force 59: The New US Military Deployment Pattern in the Middle East
    November 30, 2022
    The Future of Relations between Al-Qaeda, Taliban and Islamic State After Al-Zawahiri’s Death
    August 27, 2022
    Israel’s Cyber ​​Dome: Hallmarks and Motives
    August 15, 2022
  • Public Policy
    Public Policy
    Show More
    Top News
    Trade between Egypt and Nile Basin Countries
    April 22, 2021
    Volunteering in Egypt: Towards a Paradigm Shift
    March 15, 2022
    The domino effect: Global chip shortage crisis hits the Egyptian market
    June 5, 2021
    Latest News
    How will Forward Exchange Contracts Affect Egypt’s Market Stability?
    January 24, 2023
    Egypt’s Economic Gains from COP27
    December 14, 2022
    Global Crisis: Whither Inflation?
    December 8, 2022
    Climate Finance: Financial Resources and Investments to Address Climate Change
    December 4, 2022
  • Analysis
    • Analysis
    • Analytical article
    • Opinions Articles
  • Activities
    • Conferences
    • ECSS Agenda
    • Panel Discussion
    • Seminar
    • Workshops
  • ECSS Library
    • Books
    • Digital Editions
    • Periodicals
    • Special Editions
  • العربية
  • Advertise
All Rights Reserved to ECSS © 2022,
Reading: Task Force 59: The New US Military Deployment Pattern in the Middle East
Share
Notification Show More
Latest News
Looking West: India’s Strategy and Relations with Egypt
International Relations
Messages from the Polisario Front’s 16th Congress
International Relations
A Trump Card: Morocco Maximizes Benefit from Phosphate Amid Ukraine War
International Relations
Danger and Opportunity
Opinions Articles
Reasons and Ramifications of Al-Shabaab’s Retreat from its Positions
Defense & Security
Aa
ECSS - Egyptian Center for Strategic StudiesECSS - Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies
Aa
  • اللغة العربية
  • International Relations
  • Defense & Security
  • Special Edition
  • Public Policy
  • Analysis
  • Activities & Events
  • Home
  • اللغة العربية
  • Categories
    • International Relations
    • Defense & Security
    • Public Policy
    • Analysis
    • Special Edition
    • Activities & Events
    • Opinions Articles
  • Bookmarks
Follow US
  • Advertise
All Rights Reserved to ECSS © 2022, Powered by EgyptYo Business Services.
Defense & Security

Task Force 59: The New US Military Deployment Pattern in the Middle East

Mr. Ahmed Eleiba
Last updated: 2022/11/30 at 4:08 PM
Mr. Ahmed Eleiba
Share
9 Min Read
SHARE

The United States is rmodernizing its military assets in the Middle East, establishing a new pattern of military deployment. This modernization coincides with the conclusion of the US invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan that lasted for nearly two decades. 

These new military assets, along with unmanned assets (e.g. drones, artificial intelligence applications, and laser-fitted weapons) are in line with the growing non-conventional threats across the region. However, this does not necessarily mean abandonment of conventional assets such as missile defense systems that are being simultaneously developed. Restructuring of the US assets is envisioned to attract regional partners from the Middle East and beyond.

With this development, the Middle East seems to be serving as the experience-stager and theater of operations for these types of smart weapon systems. In mid-November 2022, the US Central Command announced the launch of the US navy Task Force 59 (TF-59), the first of its kind in the world. This announcement comes a year after a prior declaration of starting creation of the force. TF-59 is part of the fifth Fleet of the US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and is considered the second wing of the US Task Force 99, a drone unit created and deployed in Qatar, whose missions intervene with operations of the four task forces operated by Combined Maritime Forces, including CTF-151 and CTF 153 –the latter is a recent task force which focuses on international maritime security and capacity building efforts in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and the Gulf of Aden. By launching TF-59, the Central Command has achieved comprehensive defensive coverage in the region.

Operating these assets was accompanied by other pilot tests and activities over the past couple of years, including simulations of the use of laser weaponry to counter naval and air drones, the first of which was carried out in May 2002 and the second in November 2021 from aboard the USS Portland in the Arabian Sea and Bab Al-Mandab. These tests, which are being developed by Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing, among others, are envisioned to give rise to products that will go into operation over the next two years. 

The operation of the TF-59 was carried out in tandem with the arrest of an Iranian vessel carrying missile fuel in the Sea of ​​Oman on 8 November. Perhaps the seizure of the Iranian vessel speaks volumes of the added value of TF-59. The missile fuel shipment, i.e. 70 tonnes of ammonium perchlorate, was carried on a traditional dhow and hidden inside a shipment of 100 tons of urea. Analysis of the ship route, its shipment, and weight raised suspicion around it. Naval drones moved besieging the vessel whose crew were surprised to find they were encircled by an unmanned force. Following this, as per remarks of US Central Command Commander General Erik Kurilla to the Manama Dialogue, “US Coast Guard ship USCGC John Scheuerman and guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans intercepted the vessel, which was later dumped at sea.

With such smart forces, there will be no need to deploy a large military force for purposes of rapid intervention and monitoring of hostile and large-scale smuggling activities. US reports indicate that a force, comprising only 14 officers and headquartered in the NAVCENT in Bahrain, track these movements along the Sea of ​​Oman to the Arabian Sea to Bab Al-Mandab. 

According to the US official declaration “TF-59 will deploy over 100 unmanned vessels”, which would mean a reduction of the deployment cost which the United States used to bear along with regional allies. When it comes to cost, these smart assets are much cheaper than conventional manned assets. Additionally, they will likely reduce human intervention and increase accuracy as regards identifying the nature and intensity of threats in hard-to-reach or suspected locations that are inaccessible or difficult to reach. 

Given risk indicators and threats to navigation in the region, significance of TF-59 can be assessed in view of the following points:

o While TF-59 provides an added value to early warning, monitoring, and rapid action operations, thereby undermining many threats that otherwise could have been difficult to reach, strategic military capabilities are correspondingly growing in the region. For instance, in tandem with the operation of TF-59, the Houthi movement was testing a new naval missile on Al-Hudaydah coast and intensified its drone strikes, which are usually employed to suspend operation of oil facilities in Shabwah and Hadhramaut. So, arguably, no matter how much threats are reduced, the viability of Yemen as a vulnerable state and a focal point of conflict would mean continuation of such threats, which can’t be merely addressed by filling defense gaps because the involved actors will work on developing their capacities for deterrence purposes.

  • Targeting of the Israeli-linked oil tanker Pacific Zircon by Iran in a drone strike is believed to have come in response to the interception and dumping of the Iranian vessel. Following the Pacific Zircon accident, a team from the Central Command headed to Tel Aviv in an attempt to contain the situation, fearing the resumption of the “shadow tanker war” that erupted between Tehran and Tel Aviv over the last year. As such, modernization of military capabilities in the region doesn’t guarantee preventing such confrontations. Apart from Tel Aviv’s position and its responsiveness to the US calls not to regress to such confrontations, Israel is already involved in modernizing a similar smart fleet in what came to be known as “Naval Iron Dome”. During the recent war on Gaza, the Palestinian factions used naval drones, which drove Israel to develop the Naval Iron Dome. If any indicator, these dynamics give the impression that the region isn’t likely heading to stability and pacification but rather more deterrence and counter-deterrence operations. 
  • From a logistical and tactical point of view, TF-59 is undeniably an added value. It also lessens the cost burden and promotes partnerships between regional partners in managing and coordinating the deployment, which is a critical factor. However, conventional military capabilities and expertise of regional armies can’t be waved aside, given growing threats facing the region, including non-conventional as well as strategic ones. Remarkably, two weeks after West Virginia was boarded in the Arabian Sea, B25 bombers were seen flying above the Arabian Gulf and roaming the skies of the Middle East. Perhaps, we are, for the first time, speaking of a US nuclear umbrella in the Middle East.

Related Posts

Reasons and Ramifications of Al-Shabaab’s Retreat from its Positions

The Future of Relations between Al-Qaeda, Taliban and Islamic State After Al-Zawahiri’s Death

Israel’s Cyber ​​Dome: Hallmarks and Motives

A Sea Change: Space Battles in the Russia-Ukraine War

TAGGED: Task Force 59, US military
Mr. Ahmed Eleiba November 30, 2022
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Telegram Email Copy Link Print
Mr. Ahmed Eleiba
By Mr. Ahmed Eleiba
Chief of armament unit

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest Articles

Human Rights .. The Trajectory to Combat Terrorism
Special edition June 15, 2020
A Test of Democracy: Corruption and Violence Outbreak in South Africa
A Test of Democracy: Corruption and Violence Outbreak in South Africa
International Relations December 9, 2021
Will the Russia-Ukraine War Benefit from the Lessons of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
International Relations October 24, 2022
To What Extent do US Media Biases Affect the Course of Presidential Elections?
International Relations October 22, 2020

Latest Tweets

International Relations

  • African Studies
  • American Studies
  • Arab & Regional Studies
  • Asian Studies
  • European Studies
  • Palestinian & Israeli Studies

Defence & Security

  • Armament
  • Cyber Security
  • Extremism
  • Terrorism & Armed Conflict

Public Policies

  • Development & Society
  • Economic & Energy Studies
  • Egypt & World Stats
  • Media Studies
  • Public Opinion
  • Women & Family Studies

The Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies is an independent non-profit think tank, providing decisions-makers by Policy alternatives, the center was establised in 2018 and comprises a group of experts and researchers from diffrent generations and scientific desciplines. 

All Rights Reserved to Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies - ECSS © 2022

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?