US Military Action in Hormuz: War Plan to Counter Iran’s Naval Threat

The U.S. Military has intensified its efforts to counter Iran’s disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, deploying A-10 Warthog attack aircraft and Apache helicopters in a bid to secure the vital waterway. The Pentagon confirmed the deployment of the A-10, known for its close air support capabilities, to target Iranian naval vessels, while Apaches are being used to intercept Iranian drones, according to a statement from the U.S. Army.

U.S. Central Command released combat footage showing the destruction of Iranian naval targets in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a passage through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) transits. The escalation comes as the conflict between the U.S. And Iran continues following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28th.

The current operations are reportedly part of a multi-stage Pentagon plan designed to address the threat posed by Iranian armed boats, mines, and cruise missiles, which have effectively blocked commercial shipping since early March. The U.S. Aims to neutralize these threats to allow for the safe passage of vessels and potentially escort ships through the Persian Gulf. Yet, officials acknowledge that clearing Iran’s network of assets will likely take weeks, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The closure of the Strait has already driven oil prices above $100 a barrel, presenting economic challenges for the Donald Trump administration. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated, “We continue to hunt and kill mine storage facilities and naval ammunition depots. We continue to hunt and kill afloat assets, including more than 120 vessels and 44 mine layers, and the pressure will continue.”

General Caine further detailed the deployment of the A-10 Warthog, stating it is “engaged across the southern flank, targeting fast-attack watercraft in the Strait of Hormuz.” He added that Apache helicopters “have joined the fight on the southern flank,” assisting allies in countering Iranian one-way attack drones – a weapon Iran has previously used against neighboring Arab states and energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf. The identities of the allied nations utilizing the Apache technology were not disclosed.

Despite nearly three weeks of U.S.-Israeli military action, experts believe Iran maintains a substantial arsenal of mines, cruise missiles concealed on trucks, and hundreds of undamaged boats hidden in fortified facilities along the coast and on islands. Farzin Nadimi, an expert on Iranian defenses at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told The Wall Street Journal, “I think it will take weeks to reach a point where there can be safe operations in the strait… Even then, a lot of the Iranian assets will survive.”

The extent of Iran’s naval mine deployment in the Strait of Hormuz remains unclear. Michael Connell, an Iran analyst at the Centre for Naval Analyses, noted the strait’s narrow width – only 24 miles at its narrowest point – allows for missiles to be launched from considerable distances. He stated that while restoring safe passage through the strait is “doable, but it takes time, and you are probably never going to get to 100 per cent,” adding, “We could reach a stage where we’re getting ships through, and they could still get a lucky shot.”

Iran claimed responsibility for attacking a ship crossing the strait on March 11th, and has stated that any vessel belonging to the United States, Israel, or their allies in the area are considered “legitimate targets.”