The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Thursday that American forces are enforcing a large-scale maritime blockade of Iran’s ports and coastline, deploying more than 10,000 personnel, over a dozen naval vessels and more than 100 aircraft, with the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) operating in the Arabian Sea. CENTCOM said the operation aims to ensure that “no vessels violate the President’s proclamation.”
In a post on X, CENTCOM described the USS Abraham Lincoln’s transit through the Arabian Sea “as the United States blockades Iran’s ports and coastline,” while adding that “US forces are not blockading the Strait of Hormuz.” The statement framed the action as a focused effort on Iran’s ports and coastal areas, not the key international chokepoint.
CENTCOM provided force figures-more than 10,000 American service members, 12+ ships and 100+ aircraft-saying those units have been used to enforce the blockade in regional waters. The command emphasized mission enforcement and compliance with the presidential order as the basis for maritime operations.
The deployment notably includes the carrier strike group centered on USS Abraham Lincoln, underscoring the scale of the US naval presence near Iranian waters amid rising tensions. In military terms, a blockade is intended to prevent ships from entering or leaving designated ports; CENTCOM said its units are interdicting vessels that attempt to violate the restrictions.
CENTCOM also highlighted surface-warship operations, noting sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) are maintaining watches and vigilance as part of blockade enforcement, according to the command’s post reported by ANI.
The announcement signals an intensification of US maritime activity in the region and could affect commercial shipping and regional security dynamics as Washington seeks to enforce the presidential proclamation without expanding operations into the Strait of Hormuz.
Original Source: https://www.sentinelassam.com/more-news/international/united-states-deploys-12-ships-100-aircraft-to-enforce-blockade-on-iranian-ports
Category: International News
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Publish Date: 2026-04-18 12:23:00
