Hormuz Mine Clearance Begins

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have begun preparatory operations to clear naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, with two US Navy guided-missile destroyers conducting missions in the area on April 11.

The USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG 121) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) transited the strategic waterway and operated in the Arabian Gulf as part of a broader effort to ensure the strait is free of sea mines previously deployed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

United States Central Command said the operation marks the initial phase of establishing a safe maritime corridor for commercial shipping.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical international shipping lane through which a significant portion of global oil and trade passes. CENTCOM said additional assets, including underwater drones, will join the clearance operations in the coming days as part of efforts to enhance maritime security in the region.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump says a large number of empty tankers are heading to the US to load oil and gas. His comments come as US and Iranian negotiators hold ceasefire talks in Pakistan.