Gen. Dan Caine confirmed that 13 merchant ships have turned around rather than attempt passage through the U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which began Monday as part of the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. The blockade is enforced and operational—earlier reports showed six ships initially blocked, with the number now rising to 13. The strategic aim is to cut off Iranian sea trade, a key pressure tactic in the seven-week war that the U.S. military says is working as intended without requiring full interception of vessels.