U.S. conducting stealth operation to transport oil through Hormuz

The United States has implemented a covert operation to facilitate the transportation of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy markets, according to two U.S. officials speaking to Axios. This operation, which has been ongoing for several weeks, involves 15 to 20 tankers entering and exiting the strait via a southern channel along Oman's coast.

Approximately 10 million barrels of oil daily, roughly half of the pre-war volume, are being transported out of the strait and into the global market, mitigating one of the war's most significant negative impacts: the disruption of oil supplies that drove up crude prices.

The U.S.-led initiative is not merely about protecting the outbound tankers carrying oil. The military is also assisting inbound tankers that pick up oil from the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait, then exit through the strait. This coordinated effort goes beyond simple escorting; it involves managing the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, which has historically been a volatile area due to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) presence.

However, the U.S. maintains control over the southern lane of the strait, according to one of the officials with direct knowledge of the operation.

The task force managing this operation is based at the Army's 82nd Airborne Division headquarters in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It works in coordination with regional Gulf partners and maintains two daily lists: one of ships exiting the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz and entering the Arabian Sea, and another of rented empty tankers traveling from the Arabian Sea through the strait to Gulf countries to replenish their oil supplies.

These ships follow a schedule, moving in large outbound and inbound lines at designated times, with multiple checkpoints along the route for reporting and verification. U.S. Air Force fighter jets patrol the area, ready to defend against potential threats such as Iranian cruise missiles and drones.

The U.S. Central Command's recent two-week military campaign against Iran significantly degraded the enemy's radar and maritime surveillance systems, making it harder for Iran to monitor the traffic in the southern channel of the strait. Their limited monitoring capabilities are mainly composed of a few reconstituted radars and spotters aboard small IRGC fast boats.

Consequently, the Iranians are forced to launch drones and cruise missiles in the general direction of the ships' transit, often hitting their targets but frequently being intercepted by U.S. forces. For instance, on Monday night, U.S. forces shot down eight Iranian drones and two cruise missiles, as reported by a U.S. official.

Over the past two weeks, an average of 15 to 20 tankers have been transiting in and out of the Strait of Hormuz each night through the southern channel, contributing to the growing daily exports, which have now reached nearly 10 million barrels. On some nights, the amount of oil moving out of the Gulf has been as high as 15 to 20 million barrels.

For example, on Tuesday night, over 20 ships were scheduled to transit in and out through the southern lane, potentially exporting 15 million barrels of oil. President Trump expressed satisfaction with the operation during an interview with Axios, stating that the U.S. is not engaging in negotiations with Iran and that its efforts are futile. He also noted that Iran remains a weakened force overall.