U.S. Central Command Chief Visits Strait of Hormuz, Assesses Mine-Clearance Operations

Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), visited the Strait of Hormuz on October 25. He flew over the strait in a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter, reviewing the operational situation and meeting with U.S. military personnel involved in mine-removal operations. Cooper stated that the main shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz are free of Iranian naval mines, thanks to the efforts of U.S. forces. Since the start of summer, CENTCOM has helped Gulf countries export over 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil and ensured the safe passage of more than 3,000 commercial ships through the strait.