Washington, DC – Amid escalating tensions and a continuing exchange of retaliatory attacks between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, international media reports have revealed details of a secret and complex military operation led by Washington. The operation aims to clear this strategic waterway of sea mines.
Details of the secret mission and its techniques
According to the Financial Times, citing informed sources, the United States engaged in a delicate four-month operation in the treacherous waters of the strait. The US forces employed unconventional strategies in this operation, primarily deploying US Navy divers. They also utilized robotic boats and sophisticated underwater vessels to conduct mine-clearing operations.
Operations environment and time zone
The newspaper explained that the dismantling and removal of the explosives is taking place under extremely dangerous and difficult conditions, underwater and in complete darkness. These painstaking efforts aim to remove one of the most significant obstacles preventing commercial vessels from transporting vital global cargo through the strait. This comes after the attacks launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on March 29.
The Iranian threat and the Maritime Organization’s reports
Since the outbreak of hostilities, Tehran has claimed to have planted mines in international and Omani waters within the Strait of Hormuz. In a related development, the International Maritime Organization issued a report last June estimating that approximately 80 mines had already been laid in these vital shipping lanes. This poses a serious and ongoing threat to the security of maritime navigation and global trade.
