MANAMA, 2 June 2004 — The coalition forces in the region are determined to stop terror attacks by sea, US Naval Forces Central Command and 5th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. David C. Nichols said yesterday.

“The coalition naval forces mission is to prevent the movement of terrorists and their supplies via the sea and deny terrorists from making use of the maritime environment,” he said.

“Terrorists could strike anytime, anywhere,” he said.

“We lost three sailors in a suicide attack north of the Gulf in recent weeks but we are determined to prevent terrorists from reaching Saudi Arabia and our other allies in the region.”

Nichols’ comments came a day after Saudi officials urged their neighbors Yemen and Jordan to tighten security on their borders to prevent illegal arms from entering the Kingdom.

Saudi officials said not enough was being done to monitor the borders by their neighbors and that the illegal arms smuggled were being used by terrorists.

Nichols was speaking during a Task Force 150 change of command ceremony aboard HMS Cumberland here.

He added that each country participating in the coalition had an interest in maintaining security, stability, and a continuous oil supply from the region.

French Rear Adm. Jean-Pierre Teule assumed the responsibility as commander of the TF 150 from British Royal Navy Commodore Anthony Rix who was in charge of the previous task force since the end of January.

Rear Adm. Teule will command TF 150 — which is comprised of 10 allies’ ships patrolling an area in excess of two million square miles overseeing the Arabian Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, the Horn of Africa, the Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea — for four months.

He said that although no terrorist acts were intercepted during the earlier task force mission, it was important to maintain a military presence.

TF 150 is comprised of naval forces from France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the United States, Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan and Germany as part of “Operation Enduring Freedom”. It will serve under Bahrain-based Vice Adm. Nichols, who is in charge of the naval operations in the Gulf and surrounding areas.

For almost two years, 12 nations have provided warships to TF 150 operations.