WASHINGTON D. C July 31, 2026 – The US military said on Friday it has intercepted 30 ships and struck two others since reimposing its naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions with Iran.
According to a statement cited by multiple outlets and shared widely on social media, US forces have taken these actions to enforce the blockade of Iranian ports and shipping lanes. The measures follow the resumption of the blockade earlier this month after a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran collapsed.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes, has been a flashpoint in the conflict. Both the United States and Iran have accused each other of threatening commercial shipping. Iran has claimed the right to control transit routes and has conducted its own interdictions and attacks on vessels it says violated its rules, while the US has maintained that the strait must remain open to neutral traffic and has used its naval presence to stop ships bound for Iranian ports.
US Central Command has previously reported redirecting commercial vessels, boarding ships, and disabling others that attempted to breach the blockade. The latest figures of 30 interceptions and two strikes represent an escalation in enforcement activity as of July 31.
The confrontation has contributed to higher oil prices and disruptions in regional shipping. Both sides continue to exchange strikes and statements, with no immediate resolution in sight. The US has framed its actions as necessary to protect global trade routes, while Iran has described American interference as a violation of its sovereignty over the strategic waterway.
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