Two Navy guided missile destroyers started clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, as some ships are nonetheless unable to move by way of the crucial waterway regardless of the ceasefire, US Central Command mentioned Saturday.
The USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy “transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in the Arabian Gulf as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines previously laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps,” CENTCOM mentioned in a post on X.
“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” mentioned Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM.
While the trouble makes an attempt to resolve the menace from mines, Iran might nonetheless launch missiles, which mixed with the mines have made it harder for the United States or others to defend vessels or to safe the strait militarily.
President Donald Trump said earlier Saturday in a put up on Truth Social that the US is “starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World.”
NCS has reported that because the ceasefire was reached earlier this week, solely around 30 ships have passed by way of the strait.
NCS’s Riane Lumer, Lauren Kent and Annette Choi contributed to this put up.