By Jerald Jimenez
The United States Central Command (Centcom) confirmed this Monday that it successfully escorted two commercial vessels flying the American flag. through the Strait of Hormuz without receiving retaliation from Iran.
In an official statement, the military command stated that “United States Navy missile destroyers are currently operating in the Arabian Gulf after crossing the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom.”
The institution also stressed that its troops “are actively assisting in efforts to restore commercial shipping traffic” in an area where 20% of the world’s oil circulates, reported EFE.
The operational deployment represents the initial phase of Project Freedom, a naval protection mission ordered by President Donald Trump to restore maritime traffic on this critical route, currently affected by an Iranian blockade.
Scope and logistics of the naval operation
The mission was activated after President Trump’s announcement on his Fact Social platform, where he noted that various countries requested the intervention of the United States to guarantee the safety of their vessels.
To meet the objectives of Project Libertad, Centcom has mobilized a massive contingent which includes 15,000 military personnel, more than 100 aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and warships. These actions are carried out while Washington has maintained a naval siege on Iran’s ports since April 13 as a measure of pressure amid a stalemate in diplomatic negotiations.
The US denies having received attacks from Iran
Regarding the success of the first crossing, the military command highlighted that “as a first step, two merchant ships flying the American flag have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and continue their journey safely.”
On the other hand, the North American authorities categorically denied having suffered attacks by Iranian forces, clarifying that “no American ship has been hit.”in the face of reports from the Fars agency that indicated the use of missiles against its fleet. In response, informed military sources told the Tasnim agency that the Islamic republic remains alert, and warned that “the Americans know that Iran will not allow intimidation by Trump or American forces.”
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