US Navy Clears Main Hormuz Shipping Lane of Suspected Mines

WASHINGTON, Aug 25: The US Navy has cleared the main shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz after months of underwater operations to detect and remove objects suspected of being mines, Axios reported Tuesday, citing two US officials with direct knowledge of the operation.

According to the officials, the Navy cleared the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), the central shipping route between Iran and Oman used by commercial vessels transiting the strategically important waterway.

US underwater drones spent months scanning the area and identified more than 100 objects suspected of being mines, Axios reported. The operation was aimed at ensuring the safety of commercial shipping through one of the world's most important maritime energy corridors.

The report also said that more than 500 vessels had used a southern channel near Oman over the past 30 days, with approximately 2 percent reportedly hit by Iranian drones or missiles.

The developments come amid heightened security concerns surrounding maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, where any disruption to shipping could have significant consequences for global energy supplies and international trade.