United States Fifth Fleet

Force in Play

Operating in maritime warning zone; headquarters in Bahrain struck by Iranian missiles

For decades, the Strait of Hormuz has carried roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day — about one-fifth of global supply — through a channel barely 21 miles wide at its narrowest point. That flow effectively stopped after the United States and Israel launched a massive joint military operation against Iran on February 28, 2026. Oil tankers began piling up on both sides of the strait, and by March 3, tanker traffic had dropped to near zero as Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warnings took full effect, with over 150 ships anchored outside to avoid risks.

Updated Mar 2