CENTCOM forces began setting the stage for mine clearance in , April 11, as two US Navy guided missile destroyers conducted operations.
“We are now beginning the process of clearing the Straits of Hormuz,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social, adding that “all 28” of Iran’s “mine-laying vessels” are “also on the seabed.”
USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG 121) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) sailed through the Strait of Hormuz and are operating in the Arabian Gulf as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is completely clear of sea mines previously laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“Today, we began the process of establishing a new channel and will soon share this safe route with the shipping industry to encourage the free flow of commerce,” said CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper.
The Straits of Hormuz is an international sea passage and an essential trade corridor, supporting regional and global economic prosperity. In addition, US forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance operation in the coming days.
