US Forces Escort 20 Tankers Nightly Hormuz
US forces are escorting oil tankers at night through the Strait of Hormuz, with more than 20 ships moving on some nights, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on CNBC on Friday. The operation became possible after sea mines were cleared, allowing ultra‑large carriers that can hold up to 2 million barrels of crude to transit.
President Donald Trump announced that the secret night mission has helped suppress crude costs, claiming that over 200 commercial ships and roughly 100 million barrels of oil have safely exited Hormuz. He added that the United States removed 22 ships from the strait late at night with no lights to avoid detection.
The Strait of Hormuz historically carries about one‑fifth of global crude flows; its closure had blocked millions of barrels daily, contributing to a global spike in oil and fuel prices. West Texas Intermediate futures were trading at approximately $85.5 per barrel on Friday.
Non‑Iranian oil flows through the strait have risen about 50% this month. Vortexa Ltd reported that at least 1.8 million barrels exited the Persian Gulf each day during the first ten days of June. Burgum noted that markets have begun to soften oil prices as the operation progressed.