The U.S. military has established a shipping corridor through the southern channel of the Strait of Hormuz, enabling about 10 million barrels of oil a day to reach global markets, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to Axios. The flow is roughly half the pre-war volume but is easing a major disruption that sent crude prices soaring. Over the past two weeks, 15 to 20 tankers have entered and exited the strait each night. The operation includes escorting loaded tankers out of the Gulf and guiding rented empty tankers in through the Arabian Sea to collect oil from the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait. A task force based at the Army's 82nd Airborne Division headquarters in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, coordinates schedules, checkpoints and Gulf partners, while U.S. fighter jets protect the vessels from Iranian drones and cruise missiles. The operation followed a recent two-week U.S. Central Command campaign that degraded Iran's radar and maritime surveillance systems. U.S. forces said they shot down eight Iranian drones and two cruise missiles on Monday night. President Trump said Wednesday that a tremendous amount of oil was leaving the strait and that the U.S. was not negotiating with Iran.