U.S. expands alternate shipping route along Oman coast after Iran drone strikes

The U.S. military expanded an alternate shipping route along Oman’s coast on Saturday to handle increased traffic after recent attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. m. ET, according to a U.S. Central Command statement on X. The statement said the attack followed U.S. strikes on Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air-defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities.

Recent exchanges Central Command said the strikes responded to an earlier Iranian attack on the vessel M/V Ever Lovely. It added that Iran had been given a chance to honor a ceasefire agreement but launched the drone instead. The same statement noted that Central Command had struck Iranian missile and drone locations as well as coastal radar sites the previous day in response to attacks on ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

Alternate route and regional statements The U.S. military said the alternate route along Oman’s coast has been expanded to accommodate inbound and outbound traffic. Central Command also said it is providing safe passage coordination in the strait. The U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council issued a joint statement Thursday stressing free navigation through the strait and rejecting any tolls or fees.

Oman and the International Maritime Organization established a mechanism to help vessels move through the Omani coastal route. The Joint Maritime Information Center raised the threat level in the strait to “substantial” from “moderate” on Saturday.