CENTCOM: 15,000 US personnel assigned to Hormuz operation

The United States will deploy 15,000 service members as part of a new military operation it said is aimed at restoring commercial shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced.

The operation, dubbed “Project Freedom,” is set to begin on May 4 and will involve a significant show of force, including guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, and multi-domain unmanned systems. CENTCOM said the mission is designed "to support merchant vessels seeking freely transit through the essential international trade corridor," Caliber.Az reports. 

“Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade,” said CENTCOM commander Gen. Brad Cooper.

The U.S. Department of State last week announced the launch of the “Maritime Freedom Construct,” a framework it said aimed at improving information sharing and diplomatic coordination alongside military operations in the region.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 3 that the operation would help ensure safe passage for vessels affected by the ongoing conflict involving Iran. In a social media post, he stated that “neutral and innocent” countries have been impacted and that the United States would “guide their ships safely out of these restricted waterways.”

By Sabina Mammadli