US mine countermeasure ships make port calls in Malaysia amid Hormuz tensions

2026-03-16 - 20:22

Two US Navy mine countermeasure ships last known to be forward-deployed in the Middle East are conducting logistical stops in Malaysia, the US Fifth Fleet told Anadolu. "Tulsa and Santa Barbara are conducting brief logistical stops in Malaysia," a Public Affairs Officer (PAO) for the US Fifth Fleet said, describing the port calls as routine and reflective of close military ties between the two countries. Capability questions The spokesperson declined to address whether their absence would affect mine countermeasure capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz, or whether additional assets were being sent to the area. USS Tulsa and USS Santa Barbara are Independence-class littoral combat ships designed for near-shore operations including mine countermeasures, surface warfare and maritime security. Both are fitted with mine-hunting packages and had been reportedly forward-deployed in Bahrain, where they replaced a group of now-decommissioned Avenger-class mine hunters. Timing unclear It is unclear when the vessels departed the region or whether they left before or during the military buildup that preceded the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The disclosure comes amid reports that Iran has begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, though it is unconfirmed. Trump's statements US President Donald Trump said Monday American forces are "hammering" Iran's "capacity to threaten" commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, noting Washington struck more than 30 mine-laying ships, which "to the best of our knowledge, all" Tehran has. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint handling about 20 million barrels of oil daily, but has been effectively closed since early March following Iranian retaliation for US-Israeli strikes. Conflict context The US and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, killing over 1,300 people according to Iranian authorities, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting US assets, and has reportedly mined the strategic waterway.