CENTCOM commander: Committed to protecting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz
Admiral Brad Cooper affirmed the US commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in cooperation with Gulf partners.
Translated by Qiyas from الأنباء — Original source
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper affirmed the United States’ commitment to continuing to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing ongoing close cooperation with Gulf partners and the shipping sector.
In a video posted on the X platform, Cooper said, “This week, I visited our forces in the Middle East and witnessed oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. I assessed the operational situation and commercial shipping traffic.”
Cooper stated that U.S. forces remain “side by side” with their Gulf partners and the shipping industry, underscoring that his visit reflects Washington’s commitment to freedom of navigation through the strait.
CENTCOM announced that U.S. forces have assisted Gulf partners in exporting more than 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil since the summer, and that over 3,000 commercial vessels successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz with support from CENTCOM forces over the past six months.
Cooper added that the main transit routes in the strait are now free of naval mines laid by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, attributing this to the efforts of U.S. forces involved in mine-clearance operations. During his tour, he also met with U.S. personnel who participated in these missions and thanked them for their efforts.
