Illustrative image. (U.S. Central Command)
The United States military has destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones fired by the Islamic Republic as a part of its ongoing operation to free up the Strait of Hormuz for shipping, Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of the Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on May 4.
Cooper said that he “strongly advised” Iranian forces to remain clear of U.S. military assets as it launches the operation. He noted that a U.S. blockade of Iran that prevents ships from going to Iran or departing Iranian territory also remains in effect and is exceeding expectations.
A day earlier, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will begin an effort to “guide” stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz — a choke point for around 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas. CENTCOM launched “Project Freedom” in line with this.
Iran has attacked three vessels close to the United Arab Emirates, and even renewed its strikes on the Gulf nation since the start of the U.S. operation.
The Islamic Republic also fired cruise missiles, rockets and combat drones near U.S. Navy vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz as a warning. It also denied an announcement by CENTCOM that two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels had successfully transited through the waterway.
Acknowledging recent Iranian attacks, Trump claimed that the U.S. military destroyed seven, not just six, Iranian small boats.
“Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement, PROJECT FREEDOM, including a South Korean Cargo Ship. Perhaps it’s time for South Korea to come and join the mission!,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“We’ve shot down seven small Boats or, as they like to call them, ‘fast’ Boats. It’s all they have left. Other than the South Korean Ship, there has been, at this moment, no damage going through the Strait,” he added.
However, a senior Iranian military official dismissed U.S. claims about sinking Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz as “false,” according to state broadcaster IRIB.
Earlier, Trump warned that Iran will be “blown off the face of the earth,” if U.S. Navy vessels are attacked around the Strait of Hormuz.
“We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before,” he told Fox News. “We have the best equipment. We have stuff all over the world. We have these bases all over the world. They’re all stocked up with equipment. We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it.”
For the first time since the start of the ceasefire both the U.S. and Iran appear to be ready to resume fighting. In addition, the Israeli military has also raised its readiness, according to Hebrew media. The war could resume within a few days, if not hours.
It is unclear if the Trump administration miscalculated and didn’t expect an Iranian response to their operation in the Strait of Hormuz, or if the operation was launched in order to reignite the war.
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