Iran conflict: Blockade continues as US offers to assist commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz

USS Pinckney, shown here, is one of the US guided-missile destroyers conducting blockade operations against Iran. (Richard Scott/NAVYPIX)

US Central Command (CENTCOM) acknowledged further attacks on Iranian boats, blockade disruptions of Iran-bound commercial shipping, and efforts to assist greater international commercial maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in a series of 4 May social media posts and a 5 May Pentagon press briefing.

“US Navy MH-60 Sea Hawk … and US Army AH-64 Apache helicopters were used to eliminate Iranian small boats threatening commercial shipping,” CENTCOM said on 4 May. “As of today, 50 commercial vessels have been redirected by US forces to ensure [blockade] compliance,” the command added.

“CENTCOM has established an enhanced security area on the southern side of the strait that is now protected by US land, naval, and air assets to help defeat further Iranian aggression against commercial shipping,” General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during the 5 May Pentagon press briefing.

“On the surface, guided missile destroyers and other warships are detecting and defeating Iranian threats,” Gen Caine said. “This includes fast boats and one-way attack drones.”

US military support for the initiative will include guided-missile destroyers, various aircraft, and 15,000 service members, CENTCOM said.

“More than 100 fighters, attack aircraft, and other manned and unmanned aircraft, synchronised by the 82nd Airborne Division, are in the air 24 hours a day providing defensive overwatch,” Gen Caine said. Troops from the 82nd Airborne Division are using “next-generation tactical networks that are AI enabled to augment intelligence and operations”, he added.