U.S. Navy Sinks 6 Iranian Boats, Intercepts Missiles And Drones Under ‘Project Freedom’ To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz

The United States military said on May 4 that it destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted cruise missiles and drones fired by Iran as it tried to stop a new US naval operation to reopen shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump launched the operation, called “Project Freedom,” on the same day.

The aim is to regain control of the key shipping route after Iran effectively shut it following the start of the conflict involving the US and Israel on February 28.

Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, said Iranian forces had tried to interfere with the operation by launching missiles, drones and small boats at ships under US protection. He said all these threats were intercepted using defensive weapons.

He did not confirm whether a ceasefire that began on April 8 was still in place, as Iran carried out attacks in the region, including drone and missile strikes on the UAE on May 4.

Cooper said he had strongly warned Iranian forces to stay away from US military assets.

He added that the operation involves about 15,000 US troops, Navy destroyers, more than 100 aircraft operating from land and sea, and undersea systems.

US commanders in the area have full authority to defend their forces and commercial shipping.

As part of the operation, US forces first worked to clear a safe path by dealing with Iranian naval mines.

The US then sent two US-flagged commercial ships through the strait to show that the route could be used safely.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards rejected the US version, saying no commercial ships had passed through the strait in recent hours and calling the US claims false. Iranian state media also denied that any Iranian boats had been sunk.

Cooper said the mission is not a simple escort operation. He described it as a defensive setup involving ships, helicopters, aircraft and electronic systems working together to protect vessels.

He said US Apache and Seahawk helicopters were used to destroy the Iranian fast boats.

A South Korean ship was hit by an explosion in the strait on May 4. Trump said the vessel was not part of the US operation and suggested it could join US efforts to secure shipping in the area. He also said the US had sunk seven Iranian fast boats.

The operation is part of US efforts to deal with the disruption to global energy supplies after Iran blocked the strait, which earlier handled about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas trade.

Cooper said the US has been urging ships to move through the route despite Iranian threats. He said vessels from 87 countries have been affected and many remain stuck in the Gulf.

Data from MarineTraffic showed that around 805 commercial vessels, including tankers, container ships, bulk carriers and car carriers, sent signals from within the Gulf in the past 24 hours.

He added that US forces had contacted many ships and shipping companies in the last 12 hours to encourage movement through the strait, and some traffic has started to resume.

Cooper also said a US blockade on Iran remains in place, stopping ships from entering or leaving Iranian territory, and that this measure is performing better than expected.

References: Reuters, gmanetwork