U.S. Central Command has begun operations to set conditions for clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to an official statement released on April 11, 2026.
Two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers, the USS Frank E. Petersen (DDG 121) and the USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), transited the Strait of Hormuz and conducted operations in the Arabian Gulf as part of the mission, U.S. Central Command said.
The operation aims to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines that were previously laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, according to the statement.
“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, in the statement.
The Strait of Hormuz is an international sea passage that serves as an essential trade corridor supporting regional and global economic prosperity, U.S. Central Command stated.
Additional U.S. forces, including underwater drones, will join the mine clearance effort in the coming days, according to the statement.
The two destroyers represent the first U.S. Navy warships to transit the strait in this phase of operations amid recent regional tensions, U.S. Central Command reported.
The mission focuses on restoring safe maritime navigation through the waterway, which handles a significant portion of global oil shipments.
U.S. Central Command said it plans to provide updates on the establishment of the safe pathway once it is ready for use by the maritime industry.
The operation reflects ongoing U.S. efforts to maintain freedom of navigation in key international waterways.
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