Why It Matters
The United States is deploying destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, and 15,000 service members to guide hundreds of commercial vessels and approximately 20,000 sailors out of waters near the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has blocked maritime traffic since late February. The operation, announced by President Trump, comes as global energy markets remain disrupted and crew members aboard stranded tankers and cargo ships face dwindling supplies of food and water.
Iran has effectively closed the strategic waterway following the outbreak of war on February 28, threatening ships and demanding tolls from vessels attempting passage. The strait is a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas shipments.
What Happened
Trump announced the initiative, dubbed “Project Freedom,” in a social media post on Sunday, stating the effort would begin Monday morning in the Middle East. The president framed the operation as humanitarian assistance to neutral countries affected by the conflict, saying the U.S. would guide ships “safely out of these restricted Waterways.”
U.S. Central Command confirmed the deployment of guided-missile destroyers alongside air assets to support the extraction effort. The Pentagon did not immediately detail how forces would be positioned or how the operation would proceed.
Hours after Trump’s announcement, two ships near the strait reported attacks. A cargo vessel traveling north near Sirik, Iran, said it was attacked by multiple small craft, while a tanker off Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates reported being struck by unknown projectiles. No injuries were reported in either incident. Iran denied responsibility for the first attack, saying a vessel had been stopped for a routine documents check.
By the Numbers
Approximately 15,000 U.S. service members are assigned to the operation. More than 100 aircraft will support the effort. Around 20,000 seafarers from various countries, many from India and South Asia, have been stranded in the Persian Gulf since the war began. At least two dozen attacks have occurred in and around the strait since late February. A fragile three-week ceasefire is currently in effect.
Zoom Out
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, with roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption passing through the narrow passage between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Iran’s closure of the strait represents a major escalation in maritime security threats and has drawn comparisons to historical attempts to blockade critical shipping lanes.
Tehran has asserted control over the waterway and demanded tolls from vessels not affiliated with the United States or Israel, a claim that challenges international maritime law guaranteeing freedom of navigation. Iranian patrol boats, often small and difficult to detect, have been used to enforce the blockade.
Trump previously ordered U.S. forces to “shoot and kill” Iranian boats deploying mines in the strait. The president warned that interference with the extraction operation would be “dealt with forcefully.”
What’s Next
Iran’s parliament national security commission head called any interference in the strait a ceasefire violation, while state media dismissed Trump’s announcement. Tehran is currently reviewing a U.S. response to its latest proposal to end the war, though Iranian officials stated no nuclear negotiations are underway.
Ships near Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates reported receiving radio warnings to move from anchorages, though the source of the messages was unclear. The threat level in the region remains critical as the extraction operation begins.