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Trump announces Project Freedom to guide stranded ships through Hormuz starting Monday
Developing
What we know
President Donald Trump said Sunday the United States will begin Monday guiding "neutral and innocent" merchant ships safely out of the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz under an operation he named Project Freedom, AP, Reuters, NPR, NBC and BBC reported. Trump framed the move as a humanitarian gesture for countries not party to the war whose vessels and crews have been stranded as Iran has blocked the waterway since late February.
U.S. Central Command said the mission would draw on guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, unmanned platforms and about 15,000 service members. Trump warned that interference would be "dealt with forcefully." Iran denounced the plan as a ceasefire violation. Earlier Sunday, UK maritime monitors reported attacks on ships near the strait and off Fujairah, the first such incidents since April 22.
What's confirmed
- AP/Reuters/NPR: Trump announced Project Freedom on Sunday, with Monday morning Middle East start to guide stranded neutral shipping (AP, Reuters, NPR).
- NBC/BBC: CENTCOM listed destroyers, 100-plus aircraft and 15,000 personnel; Trump called it a humanitarian gesture and threatened force if interfered with (NBC, BBC).
- AP/Stars and Stripes: Two ships reported attacks near Hormuz and Fujairah on Sunday; U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in force (AP, Stars and Stripes).
- AP: Iran called the announcement a ceasefire violation and said Tehran is reviewing the U.S. response to its latest end-of-war proposal (AP).
What's still developing
- How U.S. forces will physically guide ships Monday and whether Iran attempts to block the lanes.
- Whether the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire holds once escorts begin.
- Iran's formal reply to the U.S. end-of-war proposal and any Hormuz authorization terms.
Sources
- AP — Trump says US will start to 'guide' stranded ships out of Strait of Hormuz link
- Reuters — Trump says US operation will aid ships stranded in Strait of Hormuz link
- NPR — Trump says the U.S. will 'guide' stranded ships from the Strait of Hormuz link
- NBC — Trump says U.S. will begin guiding ships through Strait of Hormuz link
- BBC — What is Trump's 'Project Freedom' in the Strait of Hormuz? link
- PBS — Trump says U.S. will help 'guide' stranded ships from Strait of Hormuz starting Monday link
- Stars and Stripes — CENTCOM ordered to guide commercial shipping through Strait of Hormuz link
- CBS — U.S. beginning effort to guide stranded ships through Strait of Hormuz link