The military standoff between the United States and Iran continues to escalate as the Central Command confirmed the Strait of Hormuz remains free and clear of Iranian sea mines, while the Iranian army announced it shot down an American drone over the strategic southern port city of Bandar Abbas. Amid the military developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed his warnings over Iran’s nuclear program, while Iranian leaders called for a campaign to cut gas consumption by at least 10 percent, with officials anticipating shortages as winter approaches. Cooper Flies Over Strait of Hormuz On Sunday, Admiral Brad Cooper, who heads US Central Command, flew over the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring Washington’s strong commitment to continued freedom of navigation through this strategic waterway. Cooper observed CENTCOM’s deployment in the strait from a US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter, according to a statement from the American military. He also met with American soldiers who took part in the mine-clearing operations. “Today, primary transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz remain free and clear of Iranian sea mines thanks to incredible efforts by our people,” Cooper says in remarks published by CENTCOM, adding that his forces “remain intensely focused on keeping commercial traffic flowing as we work with our teammates in the US interagency, Gulf Cooperation Council, and shipping industry.” CENTCOM says that over 3,000 commercial vessels have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz with its support over the last six months, exporting more than 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil, amid an ongoing US blockade against Iran. Iran has attempted to obstruct the strait since the beginning of the war nearly eight months ago. According to CENTCOM, over 95% of ships navigating the strait “have sailed through safely despite the IRGC’s unwarranted aggression, clearly demonstrating that the United States and regional partners control the international waterway.” Tehran: We Shot Down a US Drone In return, Iran’s air defense systems shot down a US LUCAS drone over the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, the Iranian army said on Sunday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. “A US LUCAS drone was hit by air defense systems over Bandar Abbas and destroyed,” the military’s public relations department said. The report provided no further details on the circumstances surrounding the drone’s downing or the nature of its mission. It also missed US comments confirming the Iranian account. On the Israeli front, Netanyahu warned that Iran was reviving its nuclear program and intends to destroy Israel, describing the final days before Tuesday's election as “a fateful week” in a new campaign video. Netanyahu declared that “the very existence of the State of Israel and the prevention of its destruction are at stake,” Bloomberg reported on Sunday. His remarks reflect Israel’s continued concerns over the Iranian nuclear activities at a time when the standoff between Tehran and its regional and international adversaries cast a shadow over regional security, amid fears of renewed military operations.
