US launches task force to disrupt Iran’s land-based supply routes | US-Israel war on Iran News
U.S. Military Expands Operations Against Iran’s Ground Supply Routes
The United States military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday that it has initiated a new operation aimed at preventing Iran from utilizing land routes for the transport of weapons and other materials. This move expands an ongoing naval blockade of Iranian ports in the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM, which oversees U.S. military efforts in the Middle East, revealed the establishment of Task Force Iron Gate to enhance enforcement of its maritime blockade. Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM Commander, stated that the task force would bolster the ongoing efforts to curtail Iranian activities both at sea and on land.
Task Force Iron Gate will be stationed in Tampa, Florida, and will work in collaboration with various U.S. government agencies to restrict the movement of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technologies, and other sanctioned materials across Iran’s borders and the Caspian Sea.
Michael Mulroy, a former U.S. deputy assistant defense secretary for the Middle East, discussed the task force’s objectives, emphasizing its focus on tracking the origin of weapons systems entering Iran and identifying supply routes for Iranian energy. He noted that a potential escalation of military actions could target economic and infrastructure sites to disrupt Iran’s funding capabilities, a broader strategy compared to previous military operations.
In a related development, CENTCOM reported that it had disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman as part of its efforts to enforce the blockade. According to CENTCOM, a U.S. military aircraft targeted the St. Kitts-flagged vessel M/V Huda, compelling the crew to evacuate before targeting the ship.
Since the inception of the blockade in July, U.S. forces have redirected 147 commercial vessels that complied with orders and disabled five that did not, according to CENTCOM.
In other news, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported two explosions on Qeshm Island, located in the Strait of Hormuz. The agency also mentioned several explosions in other Iranian cities, including Jask, Sirik, and Bandar Abbas. President Donald Trump confirmed airstrikes on Qeshm Island a day earlier but described them as “minor” while asserting that Tehran still seeks a diplomatic resolution amid ongoing Qatari-mediated talks.
Additionally, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy reported that two oil tankers struck mines near the Strait on Saturday. According to Iranian state television, the tankers, which had their navigation systems turned off, sustained significant damage after entering an “unsafe” section of the strait.
