Central Command says U.S. military has aided the transit of 1 billion barrels of oil through Hormuz in past two months while Iran has 'exported zero' | Fortune
Adm. Brad Cooper said the volume of oil, natural gas and cargo transiting over the past two weeks is the highest it has been in six months.
US Military Facilitates Oil Transit Through Hormuz Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
The head of US Central Command announced that US forces have helped move 1 billion barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz in the last two months, even as the region sees heightened fighting involving Iran‑backed Houthi rebels, Israeli strikes in Gaza and Israeli attacks on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.
Explosions in Riyadh Highlight Houthi Threat
An explosion was reported in Riyadh after the capital received its first alert since the recent surge in hostilities with Yemen’s Iran‑aligned Houthi fighters. Saudi officials said no injuries or property damage occurred and did not explain what triggered the warning, though they have previously said they intercepted Houthi missiles and drones aimed at Saudi territory. The incident underscores the persistent danger posed by the rebel group.
Iran Executes Spy Convicted of Working for Mossad
Iranian state television disclosed that a man identified as Hossein Pedram was put to death after a court found him guilty of spying for Israel’s Mossad. According to the broadcast, Pedram transmitted classified details about “sensitive military sites” in Isfahan province, including missile bases that were hit during last year’s twelve‑day air campaign by US and Israeli forces. The execution reflects Tehran’s crackdown on alleged espionage.
US Clears Hormuz Lanes, Claims Iran Exported None
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said the military cleared the main transit lanes of mines and that oil, natural gas and cargo volumes over the past two weeks reached the highest level in six months, shortly after the war began with US and Israeli strikes. Cooper added that Iran has “exported zero barrels” because of a US blockade. Independent monitors, however, note that overall shipping traffic remains well below pre‑war levels, while Iran continues to target vessels as it seeks to assert control over the waterway that previously carried about one‑fifth of global oil and gas trade.
Israeli Strikes Cause Civilian Casualties in Gaza
Gaza’s Health Ministry and officials at Shifa Hospital reported a civilian death in the Shijaiyah district of Gaza City and another fatality—the son of the ministry’s director general—in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza. The Israeli military said it hit “several military operatives” and promised further details later. Shifa Hospital later said an Israeli strike on a civilian vehicle in Gaza City killed one person and injured at least four, describing the body as “completely charred,” according to managing director Rami Mhanna.
Israel Targets Hezbollah Sites in Southern Lebanon
The Israeli Defense Forces announced that they struck multiple Hezbollah targets across several locations in southern Lebanon. The operation adds to the series of cross‑border confrontations that have kept the Israel‑Hezbollah front volatile.
Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
Since the ceasefire that took effect in October, the most intense fighting between Israel and Hamas has eased, yet the Gaza Health Ministry says Israeli fire has killed more than 13,780 Palestinians. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with civilians caught in the crossfire and essential services strained.
Regional Volatility Persists
The Middle East remains a tinderbox of overlapping conflicts and strategic competition. While US naval actions have kept a critical oil route open, the combination of Houthi attacks, Iranian reprisals, Israeli operations in Gaza and Lebanon, and the broader geopolitical rivalry ensures that stability remains elusive. How the involved parties navigate these intertwined challenges will shape regional security and global energy markets in the weeks ahead.
Source: fortune.com · 2026-09-19