US Escalates Presence in Strait of Hormuz, Escorting 40 Vessels with 18M Barrels
The US military has stepped up its presence in the Strait of Hormuz, escorting 40 commercial vessels carrying 18 million barrels of oil through the critical waterway. This marks a wartime high for such operations, with nearly 60 Iranian military targets struck around the strait.
The operation targeted various Iranian assets, including air defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets, and communications installations. The US forces also destroyed several anti-ship cruise missiles during the escort.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright reported that on Monday, over 17 million barrels of oil passed through the strait, a significant decrease from the pre-war daily average of 20 million barrels. US military officials anticipate further strikes in the coming days, citing Iranian forces' ability to rebuild their capabilities quickly.