U.S. Media: Gulf Escort Mission Overwhelms U.S. Military

Reference News Network reported on November 4 According to a report by the Wall Street Journal website on October 31, under the cover of night, U.S. fighter jets armed with air-to-air missiles were launched from the aircraft carrier deck, heading to the Strait of Hormuz to shoot down Iranian cruise missiles and drones targeting commercial ships.

To get through the night, pilots had to bring sandwiches, gum, and toiletry bags. F-35C and F/A-18 pilots worked alongside electronic warfare aircraft, airborne radar systems, and anti-submarine helicopters to provide a protective umbrella for tankers passing through the strait. Hours later, the pilots returned to the aircraft carrier deck at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour (1 mile is approximately 1.6 kilometers), catching the arrestor wire with the tailhook, bringing the aircraft to a stop in less than two seconds, thus concluding that night’s mission.

The escort missions carried out almost daily have helped the U.S. and its Gulf partners restore oil transport through the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran's intense attacks. As a result, the U.S. has been able to hold the line in this conflict. The conflict has been ongoing since late February, threatening global oil supply routes.

U.S. Military Under Great Pressure

The U.S. military stated that over the past six months, U.S. forces have assisted more than 3,000 commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing Persian Gulf oil exports to exceed pre-conflict levels in recent weeks.

According to U.S. officials familiar with the mission, aircraft have been continuously deployed, involving two aircraft carriers, one amphibious assault ship, and air force bases spread throughout the Middle East, putting immense pressure on the aircraft and crew, as well as overwhelming the large teams of mechanics and maintenance personnel.

U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle recently stated that the U.S. Navy is learning from this conflict and taking into account the pressure on its forces. The U.S. military is establishing a ship maintenance center at the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean and plans to arrange more port rest for sailors.

Currently, the U.S. has deployed 50,000 troops and 20 naval vessels in the Middle East. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that as the U.S. Department of Defense continues to expend ammunition, aviation fuel, and supplies to sustain operations, this conflict costs the U.S. between $2 billion and $3 billion per month.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Department of Defense is currently increasing the number of troops and vessels in the Middle East. Meanwhile, President Trump is considering launching a new round of strikes against Iran to break the deadlock and force Tehran to surrender. The White House stated in a statement that the blockade will continue to be "fully effective," and the U.S. will not attack Iran before the midterm elections.

U.S. military leaders have stated that as long as the mission requires, forces can maintain the maritime blockade and protect commercial vessels indefinitely. However, officials acknowledge that this resource-intensive operation may affect their ability to respond to other global crises.

The Direction of the Conflict Remains Unclear

In recent months, Iran has repeatedly challenged the Trump administration's claims of controlling the strait, causing ships to catch fire and leading to the sinking of some vessels. October was particularly severe for the safety of commercial shipping since the outbreak of the war, with the British Royal Navy's Maritime Trade Operations office recording over 35 incidents.

Dana Stroul, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle Eastern Affairs during the Biden administration, stated that the direction of this conflict seems to depend on which side can maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz for a longer period.

Stroul noted that so far, U.S. pressure actions, including economic sanctions and maritime blockades, have not been sufficient to compel Iran to make the concessions that the Trump administration hopes to see. She said, "I think the question is whether this situation will change over time?"

In October, Wall Street Journal reporters observed related operations aboard the USS George Washington, gaining insight into the large-scale efforts by the U.S. to protect vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials stated that another aircraft carrier, an amphibious assault ship, and more than a dozen missile destroyers were also involved in the operation, along with aircraft and drones deployed in various locations throughout the Middle East.

On the USS George Washington, teams worked around the clock to allocate aircraft for missions, using four giant elevators to transport planes back and forth between the flight deck and the hangar, with each elevator capable of moving multiple aircraft at once. Maintenance personnel continuously repaired aircraft, ordnance handlers loaded and unloaded ammunition, and specialized mechanics repaired engines in the carrier's jet engine workshop.

Carrier-based aircraft maintenance officer, Navy Ensign Addy Schaefer, said, "The more the planes fly, the more likely they are to malfunction, so during flight missions, our maintenance work here increases significantly. People watching 'Top Gun' never think about the people working behind the scenes. There’s a reason the planes can fly."

Some analysts believe that since oil is still being transported through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump should allow time for the blockade to gradually weaken Iran, rather than trying to end the conflict quickly through strikes, as these strikes may hardly change Tehran's calculations.

Michael O'Hanlon, director of the Foreign Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, said, "Time is on his side. I think it must be made clear that you are prepared to persist indefinitely." (Translated by Liu Yuehua)