The U.S. Mission to Escort Vessels and Keep Gulf Oil Flowing is Woking. But It’s Also Stretching the Navy Thin.

American fighter jets are flying near-nightly missions over the Strait of Hormuz to intercept Iranian missiles and drones targeting commercial ships, sustaining an operation that has restored oil exports while stretching Navy crews, aircraft, and maintenance teams thin. However, at the same time it is also spending large amounts of resources.

The Wall Street Journal detailed that the operation has helped more than 3,000 commercial vessels navigate the strait over six months, according to the U.S. military. Persian Gulf oil exports have recently exceeded prewar levels, and Central Command marked 1.5 billion barrels exported since the summer.

Those gains, however, come with mounting demands on the forces keeping shipping lanes open. Two aircraft carriers, an amphibious assault ship, guided-missile destroyers and aircraft stationed throughout the Middle East support the effort.

The United States has approximately 50,000 service members and 20 Navy ships operating across the region. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the conflict costs between $2 billion and $3 billion monthly.

For pilots aboard the George Washington, the work begins with nighttime launches carrying air-to-air missiles. F-35C and F/A-18 fighters coordinate with electronic-warfare aircraft, airborne radar systems and helicopters to detect and intercept incoming threats. Pilots and aircrew told the Journal they sometimes have only seconds to respond to projectiles launched from Iran's coast.

Behind those flights, maintenance crews work continuously to repair aircraft, service engines and handle weapons. Higher flight hours produce more mechanical problems, adding pressure to personnel whose work determines whether the next mission can launch.

The strain extends beyond aviation. Carrier and destroyer deployments have been prolonged, and some ships have spent extended periods at sea without port visits, according to officials cited by the Journal.

Adm. Daryl Caudle, the Navy's top officer, told the outlet the service is establishing a maintenance hub on Diego Garcia and arranging additional port calls. He also wants greater predictability for sailors and their families.

"Sailors will do long deployments, but they need a port call," Caudle said. Despite the military commitment, Iran continues attacking commercial shipping. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Center recorded more than 35 incidents in October, which the Journal described as a particularly violent month since the conflict began in February.

U.S. officials say approximately 95% of traffic moves safely through the strait. Nevertheless, some officials consider the situation increasingly difficult to sustain without more international participation. Previous administration efforts to assemble a coalition have struggled.

The deployment also limits resources available to counter Chinese influence or respond to other emergencies, officials acknowledged. President Donald Trump is considering additional attacks to pressure Tehran, the Journal reported. The White House said the blockade would remain fully in effect and that Washington would not attack Iran before the midterm elections.

Whether sustained pressure can secure concessions remains unresolved. Former Pentagon official Dana Stroul told the Journal that sanctions and the blockade have so far failed to produce the changes Washington seeks.