Centcom Strikes, Strait of Hormuz Choked as Allies Decline Immediate Escort

Centcom said it used 5,000lb “bunker buster” bombs on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz to reduce the anti-ship missile threat.

Since the war began on Feb. 28, just 21 tankers have transited the Strait of Hormuz compared with more than 100 ships daily before the conflict, S&P Global Market Intelligence said.

Britain said it remains in talks with the United States and European allies about escorting merchant shipping but judged the situation too dangerous for escorts at present, officials said.

Countries have varied responses: the United States has led bombing operations, France said escorts would come only after the "most intense" phase ends, and China has resisted joining a U.S.-led effort.

Officials warned any escort would be a major multinational undertaking; a UK junior defence minister said the last Gulf escort operation required roughly 30 warships and risk to shipping cannot be reduced to zero.