US military ready to resume combat in Gulf if needed, US defense secretary warns

The US Defense Secretary has warned that the American military is prepared to resume combat operations in the Gulf, citing consistently high tensions with Iran. This comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure a peace agreement and reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Recent actions highlight this readiness, with US forces actively enforcing a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz since mid-April 2026. On May 29, 2026, a US aircraft disabled the Gambia-flagged M/V Lian Star by striking its engine room with a Hellfire missile after the vessel reportedly ignored multiple warnings while attempting to breach the blockade towards an Iranian port.

This incident marks the fifth time US forces have directly fired upon a ship to enforce the blockade, which was implemented in response to Iran's closure of the strait following a war that began in February 2026. The US Central Command reports that since the blockade's inception, five commercial ships have been disabled, and 116 vessels have been rerouted.