With the Carpentaria base completed ZAFT finally established a stronghold on Earth, from which they can proceed to the next step of their Operation Ouroboros; capture or destroy all mass drivers controlled by Earth Alliance. As part of this Earth-side offensive, a ZAFT task force left Carpentaria base heading for Mediterranean sea.
In May 25th C.E. 70, the ZAFT Task Force was intercepted by the Eurasian Federation’s Mediterranean fleet near Casablanca, right outside of the Strait of Gibraltar. The fierce battle ensued, and the Eurasia Federation’s Mediterranean fleet was destroyed by ZAFT’s Naval forces, who was equipped with at the time state-of-the-art aquatic Goohn and aerial Dinn mobile suits, along with other MS and aircrafts.
With the defeat of the Eurasian Federation fleet, ZAFT task force entered into the Mediterranean sea. Soon they took control of the Strait of Gibraltar, a strategically vital choke point of the Mediterranean sea, and began to construct their Gibraltar base - the main base for ZAFT operation and expansion in the region.
By taking the strait of Gibraltar, ZAFT now controlled the entrance to the Mediterranean shortcut that links Indian ocean and Atlantic oceans, forcing the Alliance Navies to sail the long way around Cape Hope in southern tip of Africa to reach from one sea to the other. While Gibraltar base allows ZAFT to expand their operation deep into Africa, the Mediterranean region and the Atlantic Ocean.
