United States launched Project Freedom to safely evacuate commercial vessels from the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation

¨     On May 4, 2026, the United States launched Project Freedom to safely evacuate commercial vessels from the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation.

¨  This operation involves resources from the U.S. Central Command, including guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 military personnel.

Strait of Hormuz

¨     The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime passage.

¨     It is situated between Oman and Iran.

¨     It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

¨     It is one of the world's most critical oil transit routes.

¨     A major maritime route for commercial shipping.

Objective of Project Freedom

¨     To safely evacuate approximately 800 commercial vessels stranded in the Strait.

¨     Donald Trump announced this initiative on May 3, 2026.

¨     It was described as a humanitarian effort for neutral vessels and their crews.