US drone force, carrier deployment threaten 20% of global oil

The US military is deploying its first multinational attack-drone task force and a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East as Iran keeps the Strait of Hormuz shut and threatens escalation.

US Central Command announced Thursday it is forming Task Force Falcon Strike, its first multinational attack-drone unit, and preparing to deploy the USS George Washington carrier as Iran keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed.

"Task Force Falcon Strike will expand on Scorpion Strike's success given the tremendous innovation happening among our regional allies and partners," Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said in a statement.

The new unit will operate one-way attack drones across air, surface and sub-sea domains, with US Special Operations Command Central leading a staff of US and regional representatives. It follows Task Force Scorpion Strike, established nine months ago, which launched the first aerial attack drone from a US Navy warship in December and used unmanned attack vessels against Iranian port facilities in July. Iran reaffirmed Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and drew a "red line," saying it will escalate the conflict if conditions are not met.

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly 20 percent of global oil, making the standoff a direct threat to crude prices. With the USS George Washington heading to the region to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, and Iran threatening escalation, the strait has become a bargaining chip in a broader negotiation, with security risks compounding.

The drone task force announcement comes as the Iran war enters its sixth month, with unmanned systems playing a defining role in the conflict. Iran has launched thousands of drones during the war, and at least 18 American service members have died, more than half from drones or missiles, with hundreds more injured.

Task Force Scorpion Strike, the predecessor unit, was established in response to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's call for rapid acquisition of affordable drone technology. The unit's Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones were reverse-engineered from the Iranian Shahed-136 and made their combat debut in the initial wave of strikes against Iran in late February.

Hormuz closure threat echoes Tanker War era

The last time the Strait of Hormuz faced a comparable closure threat was during the Iran-Iraq War's "Tanker War" in the 1980s, when attacks on shipping led to a US naval escort operation and oil prices spiked. More recently, the 2019 attacks on tankers near the strait caused oil prices to jump sharply.

Iran's reaffirmation that the strait remains closed, combined with its "red line" threat, suggests Tehran is using the waterway as leverage in negotiations rather than pursuing a full closure. The US response — deploying a second carrier and forming a multinational drone force — shows Washington is preparing for a prolonged standoff.

For markets, the key risk is a miscalculation that leads to actual disruption of tanker traffic. Oil prices have already priced in some risk premium, but a full closure would have far-reaching consequences for global energy supply and inflation, potentially pressuring equities while benefiting oil and defense sectors.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.