Major US Operation in Strait of Hormuz Escorts 40 Oil-Carrying Ships Safely Through

WASHINGTON: The US military provided security for 40 commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, with the ships carrying a combined 18 million barrels of oil, according to CNN.

The operation was described as the largest US military security mission in the Strait of Hormuz since the war began, as Washington sought to protect commercial shipping through the strategically important waterway.

According to the report, US forces provided an escort to the commercial vessels while simultaneously striking Iranian military positions around the Strait of Hormuz.

US officials said approximately 60 Iranian military targets were hit during the operation.

The targets reportedly included Iranian air-defence centres, radar systems, naval assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications facilities.

US forces also claimed to have destroyed several Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles during the operation.

The scale of the operation highlights the importance of the Strait of Hormuz to global energy supplies.

Before the war, around 20 million barrels of oil passed through the waterway each day.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said more than 17 million barrels of oil had also moved through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

The waterway connects the Persian Gulf with international markets and remains one of the world’s most important energy corridors.

With military tensions continuing to affect the region, protecting commercial vessels passing through the Strait has become a major priority for Washington and global energy markets.

The latest US operation reflects efforts to maintain oil flows despite the ongoing conflict and security threats around the strategic waterway.

Any major disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could have significant consequences for global oil supplies, energy prices and international trade.

The movement of 40 vessels carrying approximately 18 million barrels of crude in a single operation underscores the enormous economic importance of keeping the waterway open and commercial shipping moving.