US Reduces Air Patrols in Strait of Hormuz Amid Iranian Attacks
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the United States has established specific time windows for providing aerial coverage to oil tankers navigating the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by the Financial Times, citing data from the Mehr News Agency. This development signals a reduction in the frequency of American air patrols in the strategic chokepoint.
Since May, the U.S. had been offering aerial support to vessels passing through the southern section of the Strait of Hormuz, near the coast of Oman. This initiative was aimed at countering Iranian attacks and sustaining a portion of the oil export flow through the Persian Gulf. Shipowners were required to submit their requests to the U.S. Maritime Coordination Center, which would then provide navigational coordinates and transit permissions, often over extended nighttime periods.
However, emails shared by the U.S. Maritime Coordination Center with maritime consultants, and reviewed by the Financial Times, indicate a shift. Beginning in early September, these transit windows have been narrowed to just two specific times each day. Vessels are now instructed to commence their journeys at designated hours, such as 9:00 AM.
The report highlights that Iran’s armed forces have been targeting U.S. and Israeli-affiliated ships in the Strait of Hormuz. On Wednesday morning, Iran announced it had targeted two American vessels and eight oil tankers in retaliation for what it described as U.S. aggressions against five Iranian oil tankers.
Joshua Tallis, a naval analyst at the CNA Corporation, suggested that requesting ships to transit at set times is likely a strategy to manage the expenses associated with U.S. military operations in the Strait of Hormuz. The operational cost of a single flight hour for an advanced American military aircraft can range from $25,000 to $75,000. The transit of a commercial vessel through the Strait of Hormuz at a low to moderate speed typically takes approximately seven hours.
Retired Vice Admiral John Miller, who previously commanded U.S. naval forces in the Middle East, stated that providing 24/7 aerial coverage for an extended period would be exceedingly challenging, necessitating the establishment of directives and limitations for such support. The U.S. claims some vessels are using the Omani route, but senior Iranian officials and international navigation data indicate a substantial decrease in ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has emphasized that full control of the Strait of Hormuz rests with Iran’s armed forces.
