US military directs ships to cleared Strait of Hormuz route
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · May 6
US military directs ships to cleared Strait of Hormuz route
6 articles · Updated · CBS New York · May 6
Project Freedom began as US Central Command warned the usual lane was extremely hazardous; only two US commercial ships have departed, while about 1,550 vessels remain stuck in the Gulf.
The Pentagon said Iran laid new mines on 23 April, and US forces, MQ-9 drones and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency have spent weeks clearing and monitoring a safer passage.
Officials call the mission a temporary defensive operation separate from Operation Epic Fury, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio said has ended, while Iran links its threat to the US blockade on Iranian ports.
With U.S. drone losses mounting, can technology win against Iran's low-cost threats in the Strait of Hormuz?
Is global trade now a bargaining chip in President Trump's high-stakes negotiations with Iran?
As thousands of seafarers remain trapped, what is the ultimate human cost of this geopolitical standoff?
Iran’s Mining of the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. Project Freedom Response: Economic and Security Fallout
Overview
In late April 2026, Iran laid naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, blocking key shipping lanes and trapping over 800 commercial vessels. In response, President Trump launched Project Freedom on May 3, establishing a secure transit corridor through Omani waters with a strict order to target Iranian minelaying boats. Despite initial U.S. escorts, Iran fired on U.S. warships and attacked commercial ships, escalating tensions. The crisis caused shipping traffic to drop to 5% of normal levels, sharply increasing freight costs, insurance premiums, and oil prices. With mounting risks and limited international support, Project Freedom was suspended on May 5 to allow for negotiations, highlighting the fragile balance between military action and diplomacy.