The U.S. military on Tuesday struck an Iranian missile base along the Strait of Hormuz with a 5,000-pound penetrating bomb, in what analysts said could be the first salvo in a three-week operation to make the strategic waterway safe again for oil tanker navigation.
But they warned that no matter how successful U.S. air operations along the straits are, Tehran is building an “asymmetric” or multi-layered system of advanced and relatively primitive weapons that will be difficult to remove.
And if even one of these Iranian weapons were able to penetrate the U.S. naval defenses in the Strait, it could cause devastating damage.
Former US national security official and CNN analyst Brett McGuirk said of the recent attack by US Central Command (CENTCOM): “Tonight’s attack solidified our hope that we can set the military conditions to retake the Strait of Hormuz.”
He predicted on CNN’s “AC360” that further U.S. strikes over the next three weeks will seek to “eradicate Iran’s defense industrial base and systematically dismantle everything: missiles, drones, storage, production.”
Retired U.S. Army Gen. Mark Kimmitt framed the scope of the challenge, saying Iran may have thousands of small boats equipped to launch missiles or plant mines in the Strait.
“It could cause a lot of distress to the tanker,” Kimmitt said.
Mobile launch vehicles are difficult to find in Iranian terrain, analysts said, despite US airstrikes on missile bases on Tuesday.
Kimmitt said small boats could be hidden in coves or hidden in secluded areas disguised as fishing boats or pleasure boats.
McGuirk said missiles and drone projectiles could be hidden in tunnels in the mountains not far from the Channel.
“This is a huge military challenge,” he said.
