Iran has continued “provocative activity” in the Arabian Gulf, and the top US uniformed officer in the region is urging the country to “be the professional force they claim to be.” Iranian fast attack boats have continued to harass US vessels in the region, a move that Iran is alone in doing. “Iran’s actions here in the Arabian Gulf are unlike anybody else,” said Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of US Central Command, in a Tuesday briefing. “No one else does what they do.” Last week, US ships were forced to fire warning shots at Iranian fast attack boats that harassed them. “That type of behavior is very concerning,” Votel said. The worry going forward is that US forces will not be able to de-escalate a situation, but for the time being “I can’t say enough about the professionalism of our naval forces,” Votel said.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
