US clears Strait of Hormuz as 50,000 troops maintain blockade of Iran, CENTCOM chief says
Nearly 1500 vessels carrying roughly 750 million barrels of crude oil have transited the strait in the past months, Cooper said, adding that this was done with the protection of US forces.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Adm. Brad Cooper announced Thursday evening that the US military has cleared Iranian sea mines from international shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, allowing free transit. He called this a "major milestone," stating, "Bottom line, today, international shipping lanes are open and momentum is building." The operation involved Navy divers, Navy SEALs, and US air power. Concurrently, approximately 50,000 US troops are enforcing a blockade on Iran, preventing oil shipments since mid-July. Cooper affirmed, "No ships have entered or left an Iranian port without our permission, and we have only allowed ships to pass through on humanitarian grounds." Over 20 warships and hundreds of aircraft participated, turning around 75 vessels and disabling three attempting to breach the blockade.
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