The United States military's Central Command said Saturday it had established a new task force to prevent Iran from moving weapons and other materials by land, extending a months-long naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.1,2,3
The new unit, called Task Force Iron Gate and based in Tampa, Florida, is intended "to prevent Iran from using ground routes to transport advanced weapons and other materials," Central Command said. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, said the task force would work with other U.S. government agencies to address movement across Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea.1
Central Command said the task force would focus "on preventing the movement of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials, and illegal revenue streams across Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea."1
Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Task Force Iron Gate will reinforce "the success of our ironclad blockade against Iran at sea." Central Command separately said enforcement actions since July had resulted in U.S. forces redirecting 147 commercial vessels that complied, and disabling five merchant ships that refused to comply.1
Central Command also said Saturday that it had disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman as part of its blockade of Iranian ports. A U.S. "military aircraft fired precision munitions at the stern of St. Kitts-flagged M/V Huda, disabling the ship after CENTCOM forces directed the crew to abandon targeted spaces," it said.1
Michael Mulroy, a former U.S. deputy assistant defense secretary for the Middle East, said the task force's role will be to find out where "weapons systems are coming in, how they could potentially be cut off," and how "Iran is transporting its energy." He added that if US President Donald Trump orders an escalation to the war, it will likely be attacks on this "series of targets."1
"Unlike Operation Epic Fury, which primarily focuses on military targets, I think these targets will be focused on economic and infrastructure targets, as part of this comprehensive plan to cut the regime off from its ability to fight and ability to fund itself," Mulroy said.1
Trump confirmed new strikes on Qeshm Island a day earlier, describing them as "minor," and said Tehran still wants a deal as Qatari-mediated talks continue.1
On Saturday, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported the sound of two explosions on Qeshm Island, which lies in the Strait of Hormuz. IRNA also reported the sound of "several explosions" in the cities of Jask, Sirik and Bandar Abbas.1
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said two oil tankers struck mines near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. Iranian state television, citing the navy, said the tankers had passed through an "unsafe" part of the strait with their navigation systems off. They "suffered severe damage and stopped after hitting sea mines," it said.1
