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Strait of Hormuz: US makes big move against Iran's anti-ship cruise missiles; what are deep penetrator munitions?
The Strait of Hormuz in Iran has been in a chokehold as ships passing having feared attacks, causing a surge in global energy prices.
US forces have taken their first major step in trying to take control of the Strait of Hormuz, Central Command announced on Tuesday. US CENTCOM on X notified that troops had successfully employed ‘multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz’.
It went on to explain “The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait.” They shared a map of the Strait of Hormuz as well.
The Strait of Hormuz has been put in a chokehold by Iranian forces since the start of the war which saw US and Israel strikes take out Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As a result of this chokehold, ships fearing strikes did not go through the strait, massively disrupting maritime traffic and causing a global surge in energy prices.
Prior to this action, President Donald Trump had called on other nations to help the US take control of the Strait of Hormuz. However, several nations including NATO partners in Europe like the UK and Spain rebuffed the Republican's offer, refusing to be dragged into a wider conflict with Iran.
What are 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions?
These are also called bunker busters and in 2021, it was reported that the US Air Force had successfully tested the GBU-72/B bunker buster bombs. It is estimated to be a 30,000-pound class weapon with a 5,000-pound warhead, as per Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank.
These are used to take strike targets which are hardened or buried deep. Using bunker busters against Iran might help take out their defense systems along the Strait of Hormuz.
Before Operation Epic Fury, US forces also used bunker busters during Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025, against Iran, targeting Fordow Uranium Enrichment Plant, Natanz Nuclear Facility, and Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center.
The US action in Hormuz comes after Trump was left fuming at his NATO allies. “You would have thought they would have said, We'd love to send a couple of minesweepers.' That's not a big deal. It doesn't cost very much money. But they didn't do that,” Trump had said.
The president had then added “We don't need any help, actually.” Meanwhile, Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced he was resigning, citing concerns about the justification for military strikes in Iran. Kent said he "cannot in good conscience" back the Trump administration's war.
(With AP inputs)
