MANAMA, Bahrain – During an indoor ceremony at the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain, Jan. 18, United Kingdom’s Royal Navy assumed command of a multinational task force led by the Royal Saudi Naval Forces since July.

Royal Saudi Navy Rear Adm. Abdullah Al-Mutairi turned over command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 to UK Royal Navy Capt. James Byron. CTF 150 is one of four task forces under Combined Maritime Forces, the largest international naval partnership in the world, consisting of 34 member-nations.

230118-N-EG592-1002 MANAMA, Bahrain (Jan. 18, 2023) From left to right, Royal Saudi Naval Forces Rear Adm. Abdullah Al-Mutairi; Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces; and United Kingdom’s Royal Navy Capt. James Byron stand for the national anthem during a change of command ceremony, Jan. 18, in Manama, Bahrain. Byron assumed command of Combined Task Force 150 which had been led by Al-Mutairi since July. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Vernier)

CTF 150 conducts maritime security operations in the Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden to help ensure freedom of navigation by disrupting and deterring destabilizing maritime activity.

“Six months ago, I was here on this same stage,” Al-Mutairi explained. “We said then, ‘Saudi Arabia is always ready.’ We came here ready, and this is our achievement.”

Under Al-Mutairi’s leadership, CTF 150 ships logged more than 10,000 hours on regional patrols and intercepted six shipments of illegal drugs that included opium, heroin, hashish and amphetamines. The combined estimated value of the seized drugs totaled more than $250 million.

230118-N-EG592-1010 MANAMA, Bahrain (Jan. 18, 2023) A multinational audience listens to remarks during a change of command ceremony, Jan. 18, in Manama, Bahrain. United Kingdom’s Royal Navy Capt. James Byron assumed command of Combined Task Force 150 which had been led by Royal Saudi Naval Forces Rear Adm. Abdullah Al-Mutairi since July. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Vernier)

Al-Mutairi’s headquarters staff included personnel from Bahrain, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.

CTF 150’s new commander, Byron, has completed multiple command tours, including in the Middle East region. He served as the staff operations officer and later deputy commander of the Bahrain-based United Kingdom Maritime Component Command until August 2020.

“I am delighted to be taking command of Combined Task Force 150 and look forward to following the huge successes achieved by Rear Adm. Al-Mutairi and his team from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the last six months,” Byron said. “My Royal Navy staff, supported by personnel from both the Royal Navy of New Zealand and the Italian Marina Militare, will work tirelessly to keep a watchful eye over the region.”

230118-N-EG592-1008 MANAMA, Bahrain (Jan. 18, 2023) Royal Saudi Naval Forces Rear Adm. Abdullah Al-Mutairi delivers remarks during a change of command ceremony, Jan. 18, in Manama, Bahrain. United Kingdom’s Royal Navy Capt. James Byron assumed command of Combined Task Force 150 which had been led by Al-Mutairi since July. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Vernier)

Combined Maritime Forces is headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet.