U.S. Media: U.S. Military Conducts Secret Operations to Open Oil Shipping Routes in the Strait of Hormuz

On August 19, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington (reporters Huang Qiang and Xu Jianmei) that the U.S. military has quietly established a shipping corridor in and out of the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring that "millions of barrels" of oil are exported from the Strait of Hormuz every day.

The report cites two U.S. officials as saying that this operation has been ongoing for several weeks. Over the past two weeks, 15 to 20 oil tankers have been passing through a southern route along the coast of Oman in and out of the strait each day. U.S. officials stated that the daily oil transport volume has been steadily increasing, currently approaching 10 million barrels, with some nights seeing total oil exports from the Gulf reaching as high as 15 to 20 million barrels.

U.S. officials noted that while the volume of oil exported through the Strait of Hormuz is still below pre-war levels, it has had a significant impact on global supply.

According to reports, this operation is commanded by the 82nd Airborne Division headquarters located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The operation is not limited to providing escort for oil-laden tankers but also assists empty tankers in entering the Persian Gulf from the Arabian Sea via the strait, loading oil in the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait before departing. According to the plan, these vessels will line up in a large convoy to exit during specific time periods and enter during another time period, passing through multiple checkpoints during their journey. The U.S. military has deployed fighter jets to patrol the skies, searching for and intercepting Iranian cruise missiles and drones.

According to U.S. officials, recent military operations by U.S. Central Command have weakened Iran's radar and maritime surveillance systems, significantly reducing Iran's ability to monitor vessel traffic in the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz. Many attacks launched by Iran against vessels have been intercepted by the U.S. military.