American forces have quietly established a shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz that is now moving millions of barrels of oil daily, according to two US officials who spoke with Axios. The operation has shown remarkable progress even as the broader conflict remains in a stalemate.

The initiative, which has been running for several weeks, involves 15 to 20 tankers transiting the strait along a southern route that hugs the Omani coastline. Officials report that roughly 10 million barrels of oil are now flowing through the strait into global energy markets each day, representing approximately half of the pre-war volume. This US-led effort has mitigated one of the conflict's most severe consequences: oil supply disruptions that had been driving up crude prices.

While the current flow remains below pre-war levels, officials say the operation has meaningfully improved global oil supplies. The effort extends beyond simply escorting fully loaded tankers out of the strait. American forces are also shepherding empty tankers from the Arabian Sea through the strait into the Persian Gulf, where they load cargo at ports in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait before making the return journey out of the strait.

Full details of the operation have never been disclosed until now. A US official with direct knowledge of the mission stated: "We have controlled the southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz for two months. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard can cause trouble, but the strait is not under their control. We control it."

The task force responsible for the Strait of Hormuz mission is commanded by the headquarters of the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The task force operates in coordination with Gulf regional allies. Each day, it compiles two categories of vessel lists: ships departing the Persian Gulf through the strait into the Arabian Sea, and leased empty tankers entering the strait from the Arabian Sea to load oil at Gulf state ports.

Each night, vessels move through the strait in large, time-separated convoys. One window sees a mass of ships exiting the strait, while another window sees a mass of ships entering. All vessels must pass through multiple checkpoints and report their positions along the way.

Officials say the operation was made possible by a two-week military campaign by US Central Command that degraded Iran's radar and maritime surveillance systems. American officials indicate that Iran's ability to monitor shipping movements along the southern corridor has been significantly reduced, leaving the Iranians dependent on a few repaired radar installations and reconnaissance personnel aboard small Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboats.

With Iran largely operating in a "surveillance blind spot," the Iranians have resorted to launching drones and cruise missiles toward the general areas where they believe ships might be sailing. Some vessels have come under attack, but most of these strikes have been intercepted by American forces. One US official revealed that on Monday evening, American forces shot down eight Iranian drones and two cruise missiles.

Over the past two weeks, 15 to 20 tankers have been transiting the strait via the southern corridor each night, keeping oil exports running, according to US officials. Daily export volumes have been steadily climbing and are now approaching 10 million barrels. Officials noted that on several nights in recent weeks, oil being moved out of the Persian Gulf has reached 15 to 20 million barrels. One official said that on Tuesday evening, more than 20 vessels were scheduled to transit the strait via the southern corridor, with an estimated 15 million barrels of oil expected to be moved out.