Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Covert U.S. Operation Moves Oil Through Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is an important route for ships carrying oil.
A report says the United States is secretly helping tankers move through it.
The operation has reportedly been happening for several weeks.
About 20 tankers are said to move through the strait at night.
Together, they carry around 10 million barrels of oil each day.
That is about half as much oil as moved through the strait before the war.
Even so, the amount is large enough to affect the world’s oil supply.
The larger conflict between the United States and Iran has not been resolved.
A covert U.S. military operation has reportedly moved oil through the Strait of Hormuz for several weeks.
About 10 million barrels of oil are currently exiting the strait each day.
Roughly 20 tankers are reportedly involved in the nightly operation.
Current flows are about half the level recorded before the war began.
U.S. officials described the movement as a meaningful shift in global oil supply despite the unresolved conflict with Iran.
- Who
- The United States military, American officials, and oil tankers are involved in the reported operation.
- What
- A covert operation is reportedly helping roughly 20 tankers move about 10 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz each day.
- When
- The operation has reportedly been running for several weeks, with tankers moving every night.
- Where
- The Strait of Hormuz.
- Why
- The movement is continuing amid the broader conflict between the United States and Iran and is affecting global oil supply.
- Reported source
- Axios, citing two American officials familiar with the effort
- Reported operation
- A covert U.S. military effort to move oil through the Strait of Hormuz
- Tankers involved
- Approximately 20 each night
- Daily oil movement
- About 10 million barrels
- Comparison with prewar levels
- Approximately half the amount that moved before the war began
- Conflict status
- The broader conflict between the United States and Iran reportedly remains unresolved