Key facts
- Centcom has assisted over 1,000 ships in crossing the Strait of Hormuz since early May.
- Centcom remains on high alert and ready to support commercial ships.
- Centcom previously reported redirecting 35 commercial vessels, disabling two, and boarding two as part of a naval blockade.
US Central Command (Centcom) announced that its forces have assisted over 1,000 commercial vessels in crossing the Strait of Hormuz since early May. A Centcom spokesperson told Al-Jazeera that the command remains on high alert and ready to support commercial ships. This follows earlier reports from August 2, 2026, where Centcom stated its forces had redirected 35 commercial vessels, disabled two, and boarded two as part of an ongoing naval blockade against Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway, with approximately 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas supply transiting through it before a previous closure.