U.S. Ready to Resume Combat Operations Against Iran, Top General Warns
U.S. general says forces are ready to resume combat operations against Iran; Washington secures safe passage through Strait of Hormuz amid fragile ceasefire.
The Pentagon’s top uniformed officer, General Dan Kinn, said Tuesday that U.S. forces are prepared to resume wide combat operations against Iran if ordered, underscoring continued American readiness amid a fragile regional ceasefire. The announcement, delivered alongside Defense Secretary Pete Higgsith, framed the move as a deterrent while officials emphasized that restraint should not be misconstrued as weakness. Washington also launched an operation to facilitate merchant transit through the Strait of Hormuz, citing threats to freedom of navigation.
Top U.S. General Signals Readiness
General Dan Kinn told reporters that U.S. Central Command and joint forces remain on heightened alert and prepared to carry out extensive combat operations against Iran if directed. He stressed that current restraint by U.S. forces is deliberate, warning adversaries not to interpret the pause in large-scale attacks as a decline in resolve. The statement served to clarify posture while preserving the option to escalate should American commanders receive orders from civilian leadership.
Defense Secretary Warns Against Attacks on Shipping
Defense Secretary Pete Higgsith reiterated that the United States is not seeking a wider confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz but warned of overwhelming retaliation for any attacks on commercial traffic. He described the operation as necessary to prevent Iran from blocking third-party nations and their goods from transiting an international waterway. Higgsith framed the mission as temporary and focused on restoring safe passage, while reserving the right to use decisive force to protect vessels and personnel.
U.S.-Led Operation to Secure Merchant Passage
U.S. officials said the newly announced operation aims to establish a secure corridor through the vital Strait of Hormuz without directly escorting every vessel, relying instead on layered defensive measures. The effort combines surface ships, aircraft and electronic warfare assets to deter or defeat threats to shipping and to maintain freedom of navigation for neutral commercial traffic. Pentagon briefers emphasized that the operation’s intent is to stabilize maritime trade routes and to enable the resumption of normal commerce as quickly as possible.
Naval Engagements: Boats, Missiles and Drones
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command forces at sea, reported that U.S. forces destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted missiles and drones that were launched at U.S. and commercial vessels. Officials characterized the exchanged fire as limited harassment in scope, with General Kinn describing the incidents as “nuisance” attacks rather than sustained offensive campaigns. U.S. leaders played down the magnitude of the engagements while underscoring that forces are capable of and prepared for far broader operations if ordered.
Commercial Shipping Disruption and Human Impact
The Pentagon said roughly 22,500 seafarers aboard some 1,550 commercial ships are currently delayed in the Gulf, unable to transit the strait as trade flows remain disrupted. The logjam has strained global supply chains and heightened concern among trading nations that rely on Gulf oil and gas exports and regional transit routes. U.S. officials said the current operation is designed both to relieve immediate congestion and to send a clear signal that attacks on neutral shipping will not be tolerated.
Ceasefire Extended but Regional Tensions Persist
U.S. and Israeli forces launched operations against Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to impose restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation, followed by U.S. measures against Iranian ports. President Donald Trump extended an initially two-week ceasefire indefinitely, yet officials concede that the underlying conflict and its economic fallout remain unresolved. Secretary Higgsith made clear the maritime operation is not open-ended and said responsibility for securing routine commercial movement will be returned to regional and international partners once conditions permit.
Washington’s combined message is one of deterrence and limited engagement: forces are explicitly prepared to resume wide combat operations against Iran if ordered, even as leaders seek to avoid a broader military escalation. For now, U.S. strategy centers on protecting maritime trade, preserving the fragile ceasefire and urging other nations to assume their share of responsibility for security in the choke point.