American forces are reportedly coordinating and protecting 15–20 oil tankers crossing the southern shipping lane near Oman each night as Washington seeks to keep Gulf crude flowing
The United States military has established a covert operation to help move oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, with American forces coordinating and protecting commercial shipping along a southern route near Oman, according to an Axios report citing two US officials.
The operation is aimed at keeping crude flowing from the Persian Gulf despite the ongoing conflict with Iran and repeated threats to commercial shipping in the strategic waterway. The effort is being coordinated by a task force based at the US Army headquarters at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
15-20 tankers crossing each night
Around 15 to 20 oil tankers are currently passing through the Strait of Hormuz each night using the southern shipping lane close to the Omani coast.
The vessels include loaded tankers carrying crude from major Gulf producers such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. Empty tankers also use the same route to travel back towards the Gulf and pick up additional cargo.
The operation has helped restore a portion of the oil traffic that was disrupted after the outbreak of the war. However, flows remain below their pre-war levels, meaning the corridor has not fully restored normal shipping through the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. Disruptions there can have an immediate impact on global crude supplies and prices.
US targets Iranian surveillance
The corridor became more viable after a sustained US military campaign against Iranian surveillance and military infrastructure around the strait, according to Axios.
US Central Command has targeted Iranian capabilities that could monitor or threaten vessels travelling through the waterway. Although Iran retains drones, fast attack boats and anti-ship missile capabilities, the degradation of its surveillance network has made it more difficult for Iranian forces to track commercial shipping.
US fighter aircraft are also providing air cover over the southern shipping route. The operation is designed to protect tankers from potential Iranian attacks while allowing commercial vessels to continue moving through the strategic waterway.
US claims operational control of southern lane
The operation represents a significant expansion of the US military’s role in managing commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
One US official involved in the operation told Axios that American forces have effectively controlled the southern lane of the strait for about two months. The official claimed that while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps can still pose a threat, it does not control the waterway.
The US operation does not mean Washington has legal ownership or formal control over the Strait of Hormuz. Rather, American forces have established what officials describe as temporary operational control over a key shipping route.
The US military has previously taken steps to protect or reopen commercial shipping through the strait. In May, the Trump administration privately warned Iran before launching an operation to “guide” ships through the waterway.
Why the oil corridor matters
The ability to move Gulf crude through Hormuz is crucial for global energy markets. The waterway carries a substantial share of the world’s oil and gas shipments, making any prolonged disruption a big concern for importing countries.
The US-led operation is therefore aimed at two objectives. One is maintaining the flow of energy from Gulf producers and the second, reducing Iran’s ability to use the strait as economic leverage during the conflict.
President Donald Trump has also highlighted the continued movement of oil through Hormuz, pointing to the volume of crude leaving the region as evidence that US efforts are helping keep the energy trade moving.
Still, the operation comes amid an unstable security environment. Iranian forces retain the ability to threaten shipping, while the continued US military presence and escort activity could increase the risk of further confrontation if attacks occur.