Middle East
A guided-missile destroyer conducts blockade operations on April 17, 2026 as part of the US 5th Fleet area of operations in the Middle East. Photo: CENTCOM
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US forces on Monday escorted two American-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported, describing the move as part of the newly launched maritime operation, “Project Freedom,” aimed at restoring commercial shipping through the vital waterway.
“U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are currently operating in the Arabian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom,” CENTCOM said. It added that American forces are actively working to help resume commercial transit, noting that “as a first step, two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels have successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz and are safely continuing their journey.”
Earlier in the day, the Command said its forces would begin supporting “Project Freedom,” under the direction of US President Donald Trump, to ensure “freedom of navigation for commercial shipping” through the strategic waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a quarter of global seaborne oil trade, along with significant volumes of fuel and fertilizer products, making it a critical artery for the global economy.
The key waterway was effectively closed during the six-week Iran war, which began on February 28 following a large-scale US and Israeli air campaign targeting over 17,000 sites across Iran.
In response, Tehran carried out drone and missile strikes across the Middle East, targeting alleged US assets - particularly in Gulf Arab states - as well as launching retaliatory attacks against Israel.
A Pakistan-mediated ceasefire came into effect on April 8, halting active hostilities and opening the door for negotiations, though a comprehensive resolution has yet to be reached.
In parallel to the talks, Tehran and Washington have in recent weeks carried out tit-for-tat maritime restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has tightened controls on shipping, while the US has enforced naval measures targeting vessels linked to Iranian ports.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Monday declared that vessels would not be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz without prior coordination with its naval forces, warning that any ships violating its protocols could face intervention.
The IRGC also released maps outlining what it described as a new “area of control” in the waterway, extending from a line between Iran’s Qeshm Island and the UAE’s Umm al-Quwain in the west, to another line between Iran’s Mount Mobarak and the UAE’s Fujairah in the east.
Iranian officials said vessels that comply with IRGC-designated routes and coordinate in advance would be allowed safe passage, while those that do not would face “serious risks” and could be forcefully stopped.
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