WANA (Aug 03) – The increased activity of US military support aircraft over the Persian Gulf indicates that Washington may once again be seeking to facilitate the passage of vessels through the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz without Iranian oversight.

 

Monitoring of air navigation data shows that US military support and surveillance aircraft have become active in the Persian Gulf region. Similar aerial support operations have previously been observed during periods when the US Navy sought to expand its presence or alter the existing arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.

 

According to flight tracking data, a US E-3G Sentry AWACS early warning and airborne control aircraft became operational in the early hours of today and moved toward the Strait of Hormuz area.

 

The developments come as a Qatari LNG carrier that attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Friday night with US support remains stalled in the southern section of the waterway.

 

The increased US aerial activity is being viewed by some observers as part of Washington’s efforts to provide operational coverage for vessel movements through the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz, an area that has become a key flashpoint in recent regional security developments.