15 Jan (continued) Soviet-flagged DIMUTRY FERMANOV is diverted, not allowed to proceed to its destination of Aqaba. Vessel departs Northern Red Sea for transit back through the~Suez Canal to a non-prohibited port as determined by her master. 16 Jan At weekly briefing, CINCCENTCOM announces new U.S. troop strength at about 425,000(60,000 USN, 75,000 USMC); 19 countries have deployed ground forces; 14 nations are participating in naval efforts (U.S., 100 ships [80 combatants]/50 multinational ships); updates numbers of intercepts - 6960; boardings - 832; diversions -36. Completion of two naval exercises announced; Operation CANDID HAM- MER: communication techniques/mine warfare drills in central Ara- bian Gulf (Participants: USN, Royal Saudi, French, British, Canadian, and Australian naval forces); Operation CAMELOT: personnel and equipment trained in various areas, to include anti-air warfare/vertical replenishment in central Red Sea (Participants: USN, Royal Saudi naval forces). At 1900 (EST), white House announced commencement of OPERATION DESERT STORM, offensive action against Iraq under provisions of U.N. Security Council/U.S. Congressional resolutions. A-14
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