WASHINGTON, March 16: The United States is moving 10 warships armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles from the eastern Mediterranean to the Red Sea.

Briefing journalists over the weekend, senior US officials said the move indicates a major change in US war strategy following Turkey’s refusal earlier this month to allow the use of its territory for war against Iraq.

US officials are now saying they are not sure whether Turkey will grand overflight rights to their planes and missiles and want to have an alternative arrangement.

From the Red Sea the cruisers, destroyers and submarines would be able to launch their Tomahawks, in the opening hours of the war, for flights over Saudi Arabia to targets in Iraq.

The ships are part of the USS Harry S. Truman and USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier battle groups, operating in the eastern Mediterranean for weeks in anticipation of war against Iraq.

While moving the ships to its new location, the Bush administration is still negotiating with the Turkish government to allow the Tomahawks across Turkey’s airspace, but the Turkish government so far has not responded.

Turkey’s reluctance to support a possible war against Iraq has weakened its confidence in Turkey as a military ally, US officials say. But they also say that faced with a growing resentment against the war around the world, Washington does not want to push too hard to force Turkey to change its stance.

On Thursday, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern also refused to support a military action against Iraq without a UN resolution. After a meeting with President Bush at the White House, Ahern said: “If there is not a resolution, Ireland cannot engage in support of military action, because we work under the UN resolution.”