The US Navy's Fifth Fleet announced it will hold a major naval exercise alongside Belgium, France and Japan in West Asia.

Iran PressAmerica: The US military said in a statement Sunday that joint US-Belgium, French and Japanese naval drills had begun in the Makran Sea and the Gulf of Oman.

The US Navy's Fifth Fleet has announced that ships from the four countries will take part in the exercise, for which the name "Group Arabian Sea Warfare Exercise" has been selected.

Makin Island cruise ship and other US equipment, including oil tankers and aircraft, are said to be in attendance.

The French ship Charles de Gaulle, the Japanese destroyer Ariake and the Belgian ship Leopold I will also take part in the exercise. 219