Six Nations Send Warships Into Mediterranean For Major Phoenix Express Operation

Six naval vessels from Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, France, Italy and Algeria sailed in formation on September 12 during Phoenix Express 2026.

The formation included the Turkish Navy’s Gabya-class frigate TCG Gaziantep (F 490), the Tunisian National Navy’s multi-service offshore patrol vessel TNS Sophonisbe (P 613), the Royal Moroccan Navy’s Floréal-class frigate RMNS Mohammed V (611), the French Navy’s Vulcain-class mine clearance diving support vessel FS Acheron (A613), the Italian Navy’s Cassiopea-class offshore patrol vessel ITS Vega (P 404) and Algeria’s Erradii-class frigate ANS Erradii (910).

Phoenix Express 2026 is a multinational maritime exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and led by U.S. 6th Fleet under U.S. Naval Forces Africa.

The operation brings together North African, European and U.S. maritime forces as part of a global network of navies, with the aim of enhancing cooperation and expertise in maritime security operations in the southern Mediterranean Sea.