The U.S. military wants to further protect civilian vessels that are passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
To do this, the defense department plans to place armed personnel on commercial ships so that Iranian seizures can be prevented.
US Military to Protect Civilian Ships from Iran Seizures
According to Associated Press, the U.S. military is now considering putting armed soldiers and other personnel on commercial ships.
This "unheard-of action" aims to stop Iran from attacking and seizing civilian vessels that are going to the Strait of Hormuz.
Ever since 2019, Iranians have been harassing civilian vessels passing through the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
Experts said that Iran is doing this to pressure the West over negotiations about its collapsed nuclear deal with world powers.
Now, putting armed American troops in commercial ships can only lead to two things; this military effort can deter Iranian seizures or escalate tensions further.
The U.S. military announced this effort as thousands of U.S. marines and sailors are on their way to the Persian Gulf.
These personnel are carried by the USS Bataan amphibious assault vessel and the USS Carter Hall landing ship.
Other Efforts of the US in the Strait of Hormuz
Aside from putting armed personnel on commercial vessels, the U.S. government recently announced that it is sending F-16 fighter jets to the Strait of Hormuz.
France 24 reported that the F-16 fighter jets will further increase the power of the A-10 attack aircraft, which has been patrolling the Persian Gulf.
This decision was confirmed after Iranians attacked two oil tankers near the strait in July. They even opened fire on one of the commercial vessels.
An anonymous U.S. defense official shared that the F-16 fighter airplanes will cover the ships passing through the waterway.
Aside from this, the fighter jets will also help the U.S. military have more visibility in the area.
If you want to learn more about this effort of the U.S. government in the Strait of Hormuz, you can click this link.
