The Navy will deploy guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land- and sea-based combat aircraft, and several sea and air drones to guide international commercial ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command officials said Sunday.
The strategic strait has been under a blockade since April 13.
The operation, announced by President Trump in a Truth Social post, has been dubbed Project Freedom.
Starting Monday, Navy warships will guide the commercial vessels out of the restricted waters. About 15,000 service members are expected to be involved in the mission.
A quarter of the world’s oil trade and “significant” volumes of fuel and fertilizer products pass through the Strait of Hormuz, officials said Sunday.
“Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command.
The U.S. imposed the naval blockade of Iranian ports along the Strait of Hormuz on April 13, following the collapse of peace talks in Islamabad.
It was intended to cut off Iranian oil sales and revenue, targeting Tehran’s primary economic lifeline.
Iran had previously restricted ship traffic through the strait, effectively blocking 20% of the world’s oil supply and causing a global economic strain. About 800 commercial vessels are believed to be stuck in place because of the Iranian restrictions and U.S.-imposed blockade on Iran.
“Many of these ships are running low on food and everything else necessary for large-scale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner,” Mr. Trump said.
Last week, the State Department announced the Maritime Freedom Construct, an initiative to enhance coordination and information among international partners to support maritime security in the Strait.
It aims to combine diplomatic action with military coordination, which will be critical during Project Freedom, U.S. officials said.
Mr. Trump said several world leaders, who aren’t belligerents in the ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran, have asked for help in freeing up their commercial vessels, which have been in a nautical limbo since Tehran began shutting down access to the Strait of Hormuz.
“They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders. We have told these countries that we will guide their ships safely out of these restricted waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” Mr. Trump said.
“These are ships from areas of the world that are not in any way involved with that which is currently taking place in the Middle East,” the president added.
Mr. Trump said the U.S. will use “best efforts” to get the ships and crews safely through the Strait of Hormuz.
“In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation and everything else,” Mr. Trump said on Truth Social. “This is a humanitarian gesture.”
He said any attempt to interfere with the Project Freedom mission “will be dealt with forcefully.”
