U.S. East Coast is the Setting for International Amphibious Maneuvers

French troops and equipment involved in the operation "Bold Alligator"

A landing, an air assault, 25 warships, the United States and eight other countries hold the U.S. east coast a large amphibious exercise called 'Bold Alligator' and intended to counter a threat from Iran recalls

These maneuvers, first opened by Americans to other countries, are the most important amphibious exercise in the last ten years, according to Adm. John Harvey, in charge of managing the American fleet.


About 20,000 Americans, including a brigade of marines, 650 French soldiers, troops from the Canadian Navy, Dutch and British, as well as liaison officers Italians, Spaniards, New Zealanders and Australians take part of the exercise, which began on January 30 ahead the coast of Virginia and North Carolina and finalize in mid-February.

The "J day" occurred on the morning of Monday, with the U.S. Marines landed on the shore base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.


Officially, the exercise aims to "revitalize, refine and strengthen the skills amphibious American" after ten years of war in the sands of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan, according to organizers. Asked, Admiral Harvey acknowledged that this scenario would apply to a possible crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tensions with Iran and the threat of an Israeli intervention against its nuclear program have increased since the beginning of the year and Tehran has threatened with a possible blockade of the Straits of Hormuz, the strategic passage for global transportation of oil.