US conducted secret four-month mission to clear Iranian mines from Strait of Hormuz - report
Trump claimed last week that "all the mines" present in the international waters of the strait had been removed or destroyed
US special forces carried out a covert four-month operation to locate and destroy mines in the Strait of Hormuz, seeking to reopen a vital shipping route largely avoided by commercial vessels since the conflict with Iran erupted in February, the Financial Times reported.
US Navy SEAL divers participated in the mission alongside unmanned vessels, underwater robots and sophisticated sonar systems, according to the report. The mine-clearing operations were frequently conducted at night because of the security risks involved.
Iran acknowledged deploying mines in international and Omani waters following the outbreak of hostilities. In June, the International Maritime Organization estimated that roughly 80 mines had been placed along several major shipping routes.
US President Donald Trump said last week that “all the mines” in the strait’s international waters had been removed or destroyed. The US military subsequently made a similar assertion. No American casualties were reported during the operation.
Questions remain, however, over whether the entire waterway is safe. Maritime industry professionals believe that shipping lanes near Oman have probably been cleared, but they remain cautious about conditions elsewhere in the strait.
The continued threat of mines is weighing heavily on commercial shipping. Even without further explosions, concerns that Iran could deploy new mines may deter shipowners from using the route and keep insurance costs elevated.