CENTCOM Commander Flies Over Strait of Hormuz: Committed to Ensuring Freedom of Navigation
US Central Command Commander Brad Cooper reaffirmed the US commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the success of forces in clearing Iranian mines and the safe passage of thousands of ships.
Translated by Qiyas from السياسة — Original source
- We stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners in the Gulf and the maritime shipping sector
- Key shipping lanes are free of Iranian mines... More than 3,000 ships have transited the strait in six months
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, conducted an aerial tour by helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz today, during which he assessed operational conditions and reaffirmed the United States’ continued commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation and the flow of maritime trade through the strait.
The CENTCOM commander stated that his visit underscores the firm commitment of U.S. forces to continue securing commercial navigation in this vital maritime corridor, noting that the United States, in coordination with its regional partners, is enforcing control over the Strait of Hormuz.
He clarified that U.S. forces have successfully cleared international shipping lanes in the strait, emphasizing that it is now completely free of Iranian naval mines.
He pointed out that more than 3,000 ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz over the past six months, with 95 percent of vessels safely navigating through in recent months.
He added that U.S. forces have facilitated the export of more than 1.5 billion barrels of oil through the strait, as part of efforts to ensure the continuity of commercial navigation.
The CENTCOM commander stressed the ongoing commitment to standing alongside partners in the Gulf region and the maritime shipping sector, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
