Multiple outlets report that the U.S. military is conducting and supervising covert ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Gulf, described as resembling tactics used in Iranian smuggling. According to reporting based on sources and satellite or imagery, the operation involves pairing vessels that transfer oil at sea while U.S. forces help manage and monitor movements. The reported activity uses aerial and water drones, along with helicopters and monitoring systems, to guide convoys toward waiting tankers.
One account says the transfer activity peaks around June 11, when 17 pairs of ships carry out simultaneous transfers at two locations, based on images from that date. Another reports that since May the operation has enabled more than 100 tanker-to-tanker transfers, citing sources and satellite data.
The reporting characterizes the effort as aimed at keeping Gulf energy exports flowing while using “secretive” transfers at sea rather than moving oil through conventional routes. The outlets do not provide further public details on enforcement targets or the legal basis for the operations within this set of coverage.
