The commander of the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) visited the Strait of Hormuz today, October 25, as US forces reached a major milestone in helping the Persian Gulf countries export more than 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil since the summer. Admiral Brad Cooper reviewed the current operational status during a flight of US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters over the International Shipping Lane. In the past six months, more than 3,000 commercial vessels have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, with the assistance of CENTCOM forces. "We continue to stand together with our partners in the Persian Gulf and the shipping industry," Cooper said. This visit underscores our strong commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. In recent months, progress has continued, when US forces managed to clear international shipping lanes in the strait of sea mines planted by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. During the visit, Cooper met with US military personnel involved in demining operations and appreciated their continued commitment and sacrifice. "Currently, the main shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz have been cleared of Iranian naval mines, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our people," Cooper said. " "We continue to be very focused on ensuring the flow of commercial traffic, working with our partners in US government agencies, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the shipping industry. "In recent months, more than 95 percent of the ships that passed through the Strait of Hormuz did so successfully and safely, despite the unprovoked aggressive actions of the Revolutionary Guards. These statistics, according to US Central Command, clearly show that the US and its regional partners dominate international shipping lanes.

The commander of the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) visited the Strait of Hormuz today, October 25, as US forces reached a major milestone in helping the Persian Gulf countries export more than 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil since the summer. Admiral Brad Cooper reviewed the current operational status during a flight of US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters over the International Shipping Lane. In the past six months, more than 3,000 commercial vessels have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, with the assistance of CENTCOM forces. "We continue to stand together with our partners in the Persian Gulf and the shipping industry," Cooper said. This visit underscores our strong commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. In recent months, progress has continued, when US forces managed to clear international shipping lanes in the strait of sea mines planted by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. During the visit, Cooper met with US military personnel involved in demining operations and appreciated their continued commitment and sacrifice. "Currently, the main shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz have been cleared of Iranian naval mines, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our people," Cooper said. " "We continue to be very focused on ensuring the flow of commercial traffic, working with our partners in US government agencies, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the shipping industry. "In recent months, more than 95 percent of the ships that passed through the Strait of Hormuz did so successfully and safely, despite the unprovoked aggressive actions of the Revolutionary Guards. These statistics, according to US Central Command, clearly show that the US and its regional partners dominate international shipping lanes.