UAE backs multinational task force to reopen blockaded Strait of Hormuz

WEB DESK: The United Arab Emirates has expressed its willingness to join a multinational maritime task force aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, following an effective Iranian blockade of the vital waterway, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report suggests Abu Dhabi is actively lobbying dozens of nations to establish a ‘Hormuz Security Force’.

The proposed coalition would be tasked with defending the strait against Iranian attacks and providing armed escorts for commercial shipping.

The move comes as the UAE, a primary regional trade hub, continues to bear the brunt of maritime hostilities, including repeated strikes on its oil-loading infrastructure located outside the Gulf.

Escalating regional conflict and economic Strain

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz a transit point for approximately 20pc of global oil and liquefied natural gas has triggered a sharp spike in energy prices and stoked fears of a global inflationary crisis.

While the UAE is pushing for immediate military intervention, Western allies remain divided. France indicated it has consulted with 35 potential partners regarding a reopening mission, but insisted such an operation could only commence once the current US-Israeli conflict with Iran concludes.

The UAE, alongside Bahrain, is reportedly drafting a United Nations Security Council resolution to provide a legal mandate for the task force. However, any such move is expected to face significant diplomatic hurdles, with Russia and China likely to exercise their veto power.

Humanitarian toll and broadening strikes

While diplomatic maneuvering continues in New York, the conflict on the ground shows no signs of abating. Reports emerged on Friday of drone strikes hitting Kuwait’s Shuwaikh port, while Saudi Arabian authorities confirmed the interception of two drones over the Kingdom’s Eastern Province.

The humanitarian situation remains dire across multiple fronts. In northwest Iran, at least seven civilians were reportedly killed during a US-Israeli strike on residential units in Urmia.

Simultaneously, the Israeli military has issued fresh evacuation orders for residents in southern Lebanon, warning of imminent forceful action.

These developments coincide with a Russian request for the UN Security Council to hold closed-door talks regarding the ongoing strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals.