US President Donald Trump has initiated Project (not Operation) Freedom in an effort to get the ships trapped in the Persian Gulf out through the Strait of Hormuz. Hundreds of vessels have been trapped since the first days of the conflict after Iran shut the vital waterway that the world uses to access 20% of its hydrocarbon needs. The choking of this access point to the Persian Gulf has led to fluctuating energy prices and energy shortfalls."The distinction from my perspective is crystal clear. US forces are helping the international community in restoring the flow of global commerce, while the IRGC, on the other hand, is doing everything it can to terrorize and threaten commercial shipping. The US military has the clear advantage. We have an enormous amount of capability and firepower concentrated in and around the [Strait of Hormuz]," Commander of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper stated.Two US Navy destroyers, USS Truxtun (DDG-103) and USS Mason (DDG-87) were fired upon as they transited through the troubled strait. The ships were escorted by Apache attack helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Although the projectiles that were fired at the two ships failed to hit them, according to US based CBS news. Admiral Cooper too flew in an Apache helicopter over the sea as part, this flight shows the confidence the Americans have over their ability to control the air and sea around the Hormuz Strait.The US Central Command, which looks after combat operations in West Asia, says that two US flagged merchant ships have transited through the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command has stated that they have reached out different shipping agencies asking them to move through the Strait.
Admiral Brad Cooper has also stated that the US Central Command has destroyed six Iranian boats and intercepted missiles fired from that country. Although missiles fired from Iran hit port facilities in the Emirati port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman, south east of and outside the area blockaded by the Strait of Hormuz. Three Indians were wounded in the missile strike. The Indian government has called this missile attack on Fujairah unacceptable.