The United States removed millions of barrels of oil from the Strait of Hormuz during an attack, according to a broadcaster citing two American officials involved in operations conducted on Tuesday. This crude oil transport was the largest recorded since the start of the conflict.
Before the war began, just over six months ago, approximately twenty million barrels passed daily through this strait. US forces employed air, sea, and space assets to achieve multiple objectives.
In addition to continuing to reduce Iran's capacity to attack merchant ships in the strait, the US also acted to repel waves of drones while executing dangerous escort missions for the vessels, according to the mentioned sources.
During the escort operation, US forces managed to neutralize anti-ship cruise missiles. This action occurs at a time when the US military strategy focuses on prioritizing attacks on targets near the strait, providing escorts to commercial vessels on this vital maritime route, and maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Despite the success of Tuesday's operation, authorities do not see an immediate solution to the conflict. Energy sector companies remain cautious due to the great risks inherent in sending ships through the strait, even with military protection.
Other priorities declared by US President Donald Trump, such as actions aimed at eliminating components of the Iranian nuclear program, were temporarily postponed, according to a source consulted by CNN.
US Central Command received orders to concentrate all efforts on the strait, aiming to prevent both the entry and exit of oil exports from Iranian ports. On Tuesday, the United States conducted an operation aligned with the current strategy, attacking about 60 military targets around the strait, including air defense facilities, radar systems, naval assets, mining capabilities, and communication points, simultaneously with the vessel escort.
The US army plans to continue offensive attacks near the strait, partly because Iran has demonstrated the ability to restore certain capabilities that Washington continuously seeks to weaken.