News world US Pulls Off Biggest Hormuz Escort Yet, Guides 40 Oil Ships Carrying 18 Million Barrels Amid Iran War
Last Updated:September 03, 2026, 07:05 IST
The US military escorted 40 commercial vessels carrying 18 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz in its biggest wartime escort yet, a report has claimed.
US military escorts 40 commercial oil vessels through the Strait of Hormuz (Photo: AFP)
The United States military has carried out its biggest wartime escort operation in the Strait of Hormuz so far, guiding 40 commercial vessels carrying about 18 million barrels of oil through the key waterway as the US and Iran exchanged a fresh round of strikes, CNN reported, citing two US officials familiar with the operations.
The operation marks a significant escalation in the US effort to keep commercial traffic moving through the strait while simultaneously targeting Iran’s military capabilities around the crucial waterway.
LIVE Updates On The US-Iran War
According to the report, US forces used a combination of air, sea and space assets during Tuesday’s operation.
The military not only continued strikes against Iranian capabilities that could threaten commercial vessels but also defended the ships against waves of drone attacks.
US forces additionally neutralised anti-ship cruise missiles during the escort operation, according to the first official cited by the report.
Before the war began just over six months ago, roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day were passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the report mentioned.
The operation comes amid a US strategy focused increasingly on the waterway.
The report mentioned that the Trump administration is seeking to increase economic pressure on Iran by striking targets around the strait, escorting commercial vessels and maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
US Strikes Nearly 60 Targets Around Strait
The escort mission was conducted alongside a major US strike operation.
The report mentioned that the US hit nearly 60 military targets around the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, including air defence sites, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications sites.
Donald Trump said the strikes went beyond Iran’s radar systems and were intended to prevent Iran from tracking ships moving through the waterway.
“They were trying to see the ships,” Trump said, according to CNN.
“They can’t see it because they have no radar, because we blew it up, and we blew up much more than their radar last night.”
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Trump also insisted that the US maintains control of the strait and can simultaneously strike Iranian assets along the shoreline while defending commercial vessels against incoming attacks.
US Plans More Strikes Near Hormuz
The US military expects to continue offensive strikes near the strait, according to the second official cited by CNN.
The official said Iran has demonstrated an ability to reconstitute its military capabilities, requiring persistent US efforts to degrade its ability to threaten commercial shipping.
The official described the continuing campaign as “mowing the grass” or a game of “whack-a-mole”, CNN reported, saying the strikes are aimed at systematically reducing Iran’s ability to use the strait as leverage.
The US blockade has also prevented Iran from exporting any oil since July, according to the second official cited by the report.
Shipping Industry Remains Wary
Despite Tuesday’s successful escort, US officials acknowledge that a quick resolution to the conflict is not close, while energy companies remain cautious about sending ships through the strait even under military protection.
CNN reported that commercial shippers are largely making transit decisions on a case-by-case basis.
The cost of chartering an oil tanker through the strait has also surged, with some estimates putting it above $500,000 per day.
Insurance costs remain high as well, while continued reports of Iranian attacks on vessels remain a deterrent for shipping companies.
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The risks are particularly significant for liquefied natural gas carriers, which appear to be exercising even greater caution because of the potentially catastrophic consequences of a drone, mine or missile strike on such vessels, according to an official cited by CNN.
US Seeks To Expand Cleared Shipping Lane
The US military plans to continue escort operations to convince the shipping industry that transit through the waterway can be made safer, the report mentioned.
US forces are currently shepherding commercial vessels through a passage that has been cleared of mines.
By next month, the military hopes to widen that lane, allowing vessels greater room to manoeuvre and potentially increasing the volume of oil moving through the strait.
Most, if not all, of the 40 vessels escorted on Tuesday turned off their transponders to avoid detection.
CNN also reported that the vessels included ships flagged by several foreign countries, ranging from Saudi Arabia to France.
Strait Remains Key Pressure Point
The latest escort operation comes as the US-Iran conflict enters another intense phase.
Washington and Tehran exchanged their biggest barrage since July, with the US striking Iran’s southern coast and Iran targeting US bases across the region.
The US military said its strikes targeted air defences, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications sites, while Iran reported strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.
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Ask News18What are the long-term implications for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz?
The long-term implications for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz include the prospect of a prolonged stalemate and crisis that could drag on for months or even years. Shipping traffic is expected to remain below normal levels for much of the year, and confidence will take a sustained period without attacks to rebuild. Additionally, replicating the strait’s capacity through alternative pipelines would require a decade of construction and cost hundreds of billions of dollars.
Powered byAsk News18About the Author
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
First Published:
September 03, 2026, 07:01 IST
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