Militaries from more than 20 nations will come together September 16-27 to participate in a defensive exercise in the international waterways of the Middle East, U.S. Central Command announced in a press release July 17. Gen. James N. Mattis, Commander of the U.S. Central Command, said the exercise would focus on a hypothetical threat from an extremist organization to mine the international strategic waterways of the Middle East, including the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf; exercise activities will not extend into the Strait of Hormuz. Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said July 17 that the exercise is not aimed at delivering a message to Iran. He said it is aimed at preserving freedom of navigation in the international waterways of the Middle East and promoting regional stability in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.