The command ship of the US Second Fleet, the USS Mount Whitney, arrived in the northeast Egyptian port of Said on its way to joining other ships in the Gulf, port sources stated on Saturday.
The amphibious-assault ship based in Norfolk, Virginia, is transporting troops to the region amidst US threats to overthrow Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and is to move through the Suez Canal on Sunday, they added.
An estimated 60,000 US troops in the Gulf are serving as a reminder of Washington's determination to disarm Baghdad by force if necessary. They include around 12,000 sailors and marines. Currently just under twenty US navy ships are in the Gulf region, AFP said.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is replacing the USS George Washington, and the carrier USS Constellation is en route to the region. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
