CENTCOM's Commander Conducts an Inspection Flight in Strait of Hormuz

In a demonstration of confidence in the control Central Command exercises over the Strait of Hormuz, Commander CENTCOM Admiral Brad Cooper has made a low-flying tour of the Strait of Hormuz in a US Army Chinook helicopter.

Accompanied by an attack helicopter, Admiral Cooper was seen overflying two unladen vessels. The VLCC tanker and a bulk carrier were both beyond firm identification. But in the case of each vessel, there was hilly terrain off the starboard bow, which matches the look of the coastline between Limah and Dibba Al Fujairah in the eastern Strait of Hormuz approaches. In the same press release, Admiral Cooper was also pictured addressing a large gathering of US Marines in what appeared to be a shore facility, and who are believed to be involved in mine clearance operations.

The VLCC bears some similarity to the Saudi-flagged and Bahri-owned Samha (IMO 98584500), which on October 24 was off Galle in Sri Lanka and heading for Singapore. This suggests that the vessel was either not the Samha, or that Admiral Cooper’s Strait of Hormuz visit took place about a week ago.

This US self-assuredness, in stark contrast to the unwillingness of the Iranian Supreme Leader to appear in public since his appointment, with be felt as a humiliation by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who persist in claiming ownership and control of both sides of the Strait of Hormuz.

This story was originally published by The Maritime Executive. Read the full story at The Maritime Executive →