The United States is reportedly preparing to take control of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical shipping oil lane off Iran’s southeast coast, in a move that could extend the war. Israeli officials have detected American forces gathering, including the warship Tripoli, reports Israeli outlet Kan.
An Israeli source told reporters the campaign could last several weeks, with Israel initially expected to provide intelligence support to the US and Gulf state forces. “As long as the Iranians continue to prevent passage through Hormuz, the operation will continue,” the source said.
Kan reports, “
As reported yesterday in Kan News, Israel is also set to participate in this operation. However, Israel will initially only take part in transferring intelligence to support the military operation that will be led by the American military, likely in partnership with the Gulf states.”
President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned NATO allies that the alliance could face a “very bad” future if member nations fail to assist in reopening the strait. “It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump told the Financial Times. “If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.”
Earlier this week, the White House reportedly discussed forming a coalition of countries to escort ships through the strait. While several nations have tentatively agreed, it remains unclear whether operations will begin before or after the end of hostilities with Iran. The administration declined to comment on the reports.
Trump also called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK to contribute vessels, emphasizing the strategic importance of the waterway for global oil and energy trade. “Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Iran announced over the weekend that all countries except the US and Israel could transit the Strait, an effort aimed at weakening the coalition supporting American intervention. The statement came less than a day after US airstrikes targeted military sites at Kharg Island, a major oil chokepoint.
Trump also hinted he might delay a scheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month to pressure Beijing into cooperating. “I think China should help too because China gets 90 percent of its oil from the Straits,” Trump said. “We’d like to know before that. It’s [two weeks is] a long time … We may delay.”