Is the U.S. really running a secret oil operation through the Strait of Hormuz? That’s the claim coming from U.S. officials, who say American forces have spent weeks quietly coordinating tankers through the strait’s southern channel, moving as many as 10 million barrels of oil a day. If it’s true, that’s a pretty remarkable operation. Officials say 15–20 tankers are being guided through the waterway each night, with U.S. aircraft protecting them from Iranian drones and missiles. But how secret could this really be? The Strait of Hormuz isn’t exactly an obscure waterway. Tankers have to physically pass through it, and Iran has declared the Strait closed while closely monitoring traffic in the area. However, the U.S. says recent military strikes knocked out much of Iran’s radar and surveillance capability, leaving Iranian forces with limited visibility. Maybe that’s enough to pull it off. Or maybe we’re hearing a carefully crafted version of events designed to reassure global energy markets that the oil is still flowing. Either way, the claim is extraordinary. And when the story comes almost entirely from anonymous U.S. officials, a little skepticism seems warranted. The post America’s Alleged Secret Oil Operation appeared first on Redacted.