In April 1996, following another complex overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Tarawa left from San Diego on her ninth Western Pacific deployment. She took part in US/Thailand amphibious training exercise in the Gulf of Thailand, exercise Indigo Serpent, with the Royal Saudi Navy, and exercise Infinite Moonlight, the first-ever exercise between US and Royal Jordanian Navy, in the Red Sea. The last preceded Tarawas visit to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the no-fly zone over southern Iraq. Tarawa was also part of Operation Desert Strike. Returning to San Diego in October 1996, Tarawa earned both the Federal Energy Conservation Award and the Secretary of the Navy Energy Conservation Award.
