The Saudi Naval Forces officially handed over command of the Combined Task Force (CTF 152) to the Kuwaiti Navy during a ceremony held at the U.S. Naval Support Activity Base of the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.
Brigadier General Talal Al-Kandari of the Kuwaiti Naval Forces assumed command of CTF 152 from Colonel Asim bin Murai Al-Omari of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.
During the Saudi Navy’s leadership, CTF 152 carried out several key operations to ensure maritime security within its area of responsibility. These operations included ensuring the safe and free flow of global shipping lanes, deterring non-governmental organizations from conducting criminal and terrorist activities, conducting mixed naval exercises, joint patrols, focused operations, command center courses, and ship-boarding and inspection drills with U.S. forces.
Established in 2004, CTF 152 is one of five task forces operating under the Combined Maritime Forces within the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.
This handover enhances regional maritime cooperation, supports maritime security in the Arabian Gulf, protects infrastructure in international waters, and combats illegal activities and terrorist threats. The ceremony was attended by Vice Admiral George Wikoff, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Commander of the Fifth Fleet, and Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces, along with Major General Mohammed bin Hamid Al-Ghamdi of the Saudi Naval Forces, and several ambassadors, military attachés, and diplomats in Manama.
