The US military has reportedly established a quiet shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz to help move millions of barrels of oil each day. The operation is reportedly continuing despite a wider pause in fighting.
According to Axios, two US officials said the operation has become a significant development. For several weeks, around 15 to 20 oil tankers have reportedly used a southern channel along the coast of Oman each night.
Officials said around 10 million barrels of oil are currently being moved safely through the US military Strait of Hormuz operation each day. That volume is about half of the level recorded before the conflict.
The operation reportedly goes beyond escorting oil tankers out of the strait. US forces are also helping empty tankers enter the Gulf from the Arabian Sea, load oil in regional countries and safely return through the waterway.
A US official familiar with the operation said American forces had been controlling the southern lane of the Strait of Hormuz for about two months. The official said Iran’s Revolutionary Guards could disrupt the route but did not control the strait.
The operation is reportedly managed by a task force based at the US Army headquarters at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The task force prepares daily vessel lists and schedules ships to pass through the area in large groups at night, while US fighter aircraft provide protection.
According to the report, the US military Strait of Hormuz operation became possible after a two-week US Central Command campaign damaged Iran’s radar and maritime surveillance systems. Iranian forces have launched drones and cruise missiles at some vessels, but most reported attacks have been intercepted by US forces.
