The United States has strategically deployed A-10 Warthogs, AH-64 Apache helicopters, and 5,000-pound ground-penetrating bombs to target Iranian drones, boats, and mines, bolstering security in the critical Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement from the nation’s top military official on Thursday.
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed a news conference at the Pentagon, pledging that the U.S. would actively pursue and eliminate Tehran’s military resources threatening the strait—a vital passageway for 20% of the global oil supply.
“We remain committed to neutralizing hostile maritime assets, having already targeted over 120 vessels and 44 minelayers,” Caine announced to the press, standing alongside Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
He further emphasized, “Our operations are expanding eastward, with missions now penetrating deeper into Iranian airspace to dismantle offensive capabilities.”
In recent actions, U.S. forces dispatched the formidable A-10 aircraft to strike Iranian naval forces within the Strait of Hormuz, reinforcing their strategic stance in the region.
Caine also confirmed that on Wednesday, U.S. forces employed 5,000-pound penetrator bombs on underground storage sites in Iran, aiming to disrupt military logistics.
The US also made use of AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to strike against Iraq-based, Iran-aligned militia groups believed to be firing drones across the Middle East.
Caine claimed that America’s efforts would effectively destroy Iran’s ability to “project power outside of its borders,” a key goal of the Trump administration.
The closure of the strait following recent attacks on tanker and transport ships as well as oil and gas facilities across the Middle East has caused gas prices to soar, with benchmark Brent oil prices jumping above $119 a barrel on Thursday.
The Trump administration has discussed using ground forces on Iranian shores to secure the Strait of Hormuz and Kharg Island, through which 90% of Iranian crude oil exports pass, according to Reuters.
The White House has said no decision on troop deployment has been made yet, “but President Trump wisely keeps all options at his disposal.”
“No, I’m not putting troops anywhere,” Trump told a reporter who quizzed him about the prospect Thursday, adding: “If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you.”
Trump had called on America’s allies and Iran’s oil buyers to deploy their own naval units to secure the Strait of Hormuz, but the president has received lukewarm responses or outright refusals to get involved in a hot war.
