WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has cleared mines from main transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz, restoring passage for commercial vessels through the chokepoint that handles roughly 21 million barrels of oil per day.
The Strait of Hormuz carries approximately 20 percent of global petroleum consumption, making it critical to international energy markets and trade. The waterway's security is a centerpiece of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
The clearance follows a period of heightened regional tensions and incidents involving commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf. U.S. Central Command said it aims to deter aggression and protect freedom of navigation. The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, oversees naval operations across 2.5 million square miles, including the strait.
The U.S. military did not say who placed the mines. Their discovery underscores persistent security risks in a region where the United States has positioned itself as the guarantor of safe passage for international commerce.
The Pentagon did not disclose the operation's duration but said U.S. naval forces will continue regular patrols and surveillance in the strait to prevent future disruptions.
