For the First Time Since the Start of the War, a U.S. Destroyer Sails Near the Strait of Hormuz

Maritime navigation data from MarineTraffic show the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, a movement that comes amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the region.

According to data monitored by Misbar, the vessel departed Jebel Ali Port (JEA) in the United Arab Emirates on the morning of February 27, 2026, traveling at a speed of 19.8 knots on a 52-degree (northeast) heading. The ship’s track, which lists Singapore (SIN) as its final destination, places it at coordinates 25°43.54′N, 57°7.90′E—indicating it was in the midst of transiting the strategic waterway off the coast of Oman.

U.S. Destroyer Transits Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Regional Tensions

The naval movement coincides with reporting by Axios, citing a U.S. official who said several U.S. Navy vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday in a move described as not previously coordinated with Iran. According to the official, the operation aimed to reassure commercial shipping traffic transiting the strait and occurred alongside the launch of peace talks between the two sides in Pakistan.

The U.S. official said the operation “focused on ensuring freedom of navigation in international waters,” noting that the warships crossed the strait from east to west toward the Gulf, before transiting it again back toward the Arabian Sea.

Iran Reports Warning Issued to U.S. Vessel During Uncoordinated Passage

Meanwhile, Iran’s Fars News Agency, citing Tabnak, reported that one of the incidents involved a U.S. destroyer moving from Fujairah Port toward the Strait of Hormuz, where it was directly monitored by Iranian armed forces. The report said Tehran tracked the vessel’s position closely and relayed the information to the Iranian negotiating delegation in Pakistan, which passed it via a Pakistani mediator to the U.S. side. A direct military warning was also reportedly issued to the ship, stating it would become a target if it approached the strait.

The agency added that Iran sent a clear message through the Pakistani mediator that, if the destroyer continued its movement, it would be targeted within 30 minutes, warning that such an escalation could affect the course of Iranian-U.S. negotiations.

According to the Iranian account, the warning, combined with field and diplomatic coordination, led to orders to halt the ship’s movement. The Pakistani mediator reportedly praised what was described as “close coordination between Iran’s military and diplomatic institutions” in managing the situation.

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