US CENTCOM chief: Main shipping lanes in Strait of Hormuz clear of naval mines

Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, has affirmed that the primary shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz are devoid of naval mines, thanks to ongoing US military actions. During a recent visit to the Strait on October 25, Cooper, via aerial inspection in a US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter, confirmed the safety of these vital maritime routes.

Over the past six months, more than 3,000 commercial vessels have navigated the Strait with US-backed support, contributing to the exportation of over 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil. Cooper emphasized that the continuous presence of US forces alongside Gulf partners and the maritime shipping sector is crucial for maintaining freedom of navigation.

He credited US efforts in mine clearance, in collaboration with the US government, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the shipping industry, as the key to preserving these crucial lanes. A CENTCOM statement highlighted the region's progress, noting that over 95% of recent shipping activity through the Strait has proceeded safely, despite what the statement termed "unjustified aggression" from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.