Manama (Bahrain), Jan 8 (DPA) The US Navy’s 5th Fleet Command which oversees all naval operations of the US-led coalition in the Middle East announced Thursday the establishment of a new task force specifically for counter-piracy operations.

Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) would be composed of naval ships and ‘assets’ from more than 20 nations, the US military said in a statement.

US Navy Rear Admiral Terence McKnight has been named the commander of the new task force that is set to be fully operational by the middle of January.

The establishment of CTF-151 will allow CTF-150 participants to focus on deterring drug smuggling and weapons trafficking in the region, giving CTF-151 the ability to focus solely on the counter-piracy mission.