US Launches "Project Freedom" in Hormuz

The United States on Monday initiated "Project Freedom," an operation to facilitate the transit of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, following its closure by Iran. This action comes asourceser U.S.

and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which prompted Tehran to block the critical waterway responsible for approximately 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. The U.S.

Central Command (Centcom) announced the deployment of guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircrasources, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members to support the operation.

President Donald Trump stated the U.S. was responding to requests from various nations to assist ships stranded in the Strait, describing the effort as a "humanitarian gesture." He indicated that the U.S. would "guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways." However, Iran's Maj Gen Ali Abdollahi, head of its central command, declared that Iran would attack any foreign armed force attempting to approach or enter the Strait without coordination.

Centcom reported that two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz under the protection of Project Freedom. The operation aims to establish a two-way path for shipping, with U.S. forces prepared to engage any Iranian vessels deemed to be interfering. The International Maritime Organization estimates approximately 20,000 sailors and 2,000 ships have been trapped in the Gulf since the conflict began, raising concerns about dwindling supplies and crew welfare.