U.S. Central Command Says Mines Cleared From Main Shipping Route in Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. military said it has completed mine-clearing operations along a main shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz. It also said volumes of oil, cargo and liquefied natural gas passing through the waterway over the past two weeks reached their highest level in six months.

O Daily reported on September 19 that Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said mines had been removed from the strait’s main transit route and that thousands of ships had passed through it. The U.S. military has supported the passage of more than 2,000 commercial vessels so far.

Cooper also said oil exports shipped from partner countries in the Gulf region through the Strait of Hormuz have exceeded 1 billion barrels. He added that volumes of oil, cargo and LNG moving through the strait in the past two weeks were the highest in the past six months.

U.S. Central Command said it plans to work with member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as insurers and shipping companies, to further expand vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.