The U.S. military will support Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz with guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms and 15,000 service members, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
CENTCOM said the mission, directed by President Donald Trump, will begin May 4 and is intended to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the strait.
The command said the waterway carries a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade, along with significant volumes of fuel and fertilizer products.
Trump announced the effort Sunday on Truth Social, saying countries around the world had asked Washington to help ships he described as “locked up” in the waterway. He said the vessels belonged to countries not involved in the Middle East dispute and called them “neutral and innocent bystanders.”
The president said the United States would use “best efforts” to get the ships and crews safely out of the strait. He said the vessels would not return until the area is safe for navigation.
Trump described the planned ship movement as humanitarian, saying many vessels were running low on food and other supplies needed to keep large crews on board in healthy and sanitary conditions.
He also said U.S. representatives were having “very positive discussions” with Iran that “could lead to something very positive for all,” but he did not give details.
Trump warned that any interference with the process would “have to be dealt with forcefully.”
“Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade,” Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in the release.
The Truth Social post did not identify the countries that requested U.S. help, the number of ships involved or which U.S. forces would take part. CENTCOM later identified the military assets and personnel expected to support the mission.
CENTCOM said the operation will be supported by the Maritime Freedom Construct, a new initiative announced last week by the U.S. Department of State in partnership with the Department of War.
According to CENTCOM, the initiative is intended to improve coordination and information sharing among international partners working on maritime security in the strait and to combine diplomatic action with military coordination during Project Freedom.
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