Donald Trump sends warships to break Iran’s strait of Hormuz blockade

President Donald Trump launched a military operation called "Project Freedom" on Monday, May 4, 2026, to break Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The mission aims to "guide" hundreds of stranded commercial vessels out of the Persian Gulf, where roughly 20,000 seafarers and 2,000 ships have been trapped since the start of the conflict in February. 

Key Military Developments

• Direct Combat: US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that Sea Hawk and Apache helicopters destroyed six to seven Iranian "fast boats" that were threatening commercial shipping on Monday.
• Asset Deployment: The operation is supported by guided-missile destroyers, over 100 aircraft, and 15,000 service members.
• Successful Transits: The US military confirmed that two US-flagged merchant vessels successfully transited the strait on the first day of the operation. The shipping company Maersk also confirmed that its vessel, the Alliance Fairfax, exited the Gulf under US military protection.
• Escalation Threats: Trump has warned that Iranian forces will be "blown off the face of the earth" if they target US vessels.  

Iranian Response and Tensions

• Warning Shots & Denials: Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have fired warning shots at US destroyers and hit a US frigate with missiles. The US Department of Defense has explicitly denied that any American warships were struck.
• Regional Strikes: Tensions surged as the UAE reported intercepting 15 Iranian missiles and four drones on Monday. One drone strike caused a fire at a key oil facility in Fujairah, wounding three Indian nationals.
• "Project Deadlock": Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the mission as "Project Deadlock," warning the US against being "dragged back into a quagmire". 

Global and Economic Impact

• Fuel Crisis: The ongoing "dual blockade"—with the US blockading Iranian ports and Iran blockading the Gulf—has choked off 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies.
• Market Volatility: Benchmark Brent crude oil futures jumped over 5%, briefly passing $115 a barrel following reports of the strikes in the UAE.
• Travel Advisories: The US Department of State has issued a Level 3 advisory, urging citizens to reconsider travel to the UAE due to the threat of aerial attacks.