Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) handed over the command of Combined Task Force 152 (CTF 152) to its Kuwaiti counterpart in an official ceremony held at the US Naval Support Activity Bahrain, home to US Fifth Fleet.

Brig. Gen. Talal Alkandri of the Kuwaiti Naval Forces took over command of CTF 152 from Col. Assem Alamri of the RSNF. The handover ceremony was attended by Commander of the US Naval Forces Central Command and Commander of the US Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces Vice Admiral George Wyckoff, Rear Admiral Mohammed bin Hamed Al-Ghamdi from the Navy, and a number of ambassadors, attachés and the diplomatic corps based in Manama.

During RSNF’s command, CTF 152 carried out various specialized operations to enforce maritime security, ensure free and safe passage of global shipping, and combat criminal and terrorist activities.

The operations included joint maritime exercises, patrols, focused missions, as well as command center training and vessel inspection courses with US forces for a number of trainees.

Established in 2004, CTF 152 is one of five task forces operating within the Combined Naval Forces of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. The CTF aims to bolster maritime cooperation at the regional level, support maritime security in the Arabian Gulf, protect infrastructure in international waters, and combat illegal activities and terrorist threats.