How could US forcibly reopen strait of Hormuz and what are the risks?

US plans for a forced reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have materially escalated Middle East risk, with the article saying oil has already surged above $100/bbl as the market prices in a potential ground operation. The presence of US marines and paratroopers in the region, plus discussion of seizing islands such as Kharg or Qeshm, raises the probability of a broader conflict that could keep energy and risk-premium support elevated across commodities. For precious metals, the direct read-through is geopolitical safe-haven demand rather than any immediate supply-side impact. Gold would typically benefit if the market starts to price in a sustained war-risk premium, but the article itself gives no explicit metal pricing or flow data. The key trade variable is whether the deployment is a negotiating show of force or the start of a real seizure operation; the latter would likely trigger a sharper bid in havens and a wider move in cross-asset volatility. Near term, watch for further US force buildup, Iranian retaliation threats, and any disruption to shipping through Hormuz, as these would be the clearest catalysts for renewed haven buying. If the situation de-escalates, some of the geopolitical premium in gold could fade quickly; if it escalates, safe-haven flows into gold and silver should strengthen even if the first knee-jerk move remains concentrated in crude and energy-linked inflation expectations.