8 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 11
Project Freedom could be restarted after Trump said he is reconsidering the mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for commercial ships stranded by attack fears.
About 36 hours after launching it on May 3, Trump halted the effort; during that brief window, U.S. forces helped two U.S.-flagged commercial vessels transit the strait.
Iran derailed the operation with missile and drone attacks on commercial ships and the U.S. Navy, plus a strike on the UAE that set an oil transit hub ablaze; U.S. helicopters then sank Iranian speedboats.
15,000 servicemembers, guided-missile destroyers and more than 100 aircraft and unmanned platforms were assigned to the mission, while the IRGC warned ships crossing without its permission still face serious risks.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait had briefly denied U.S. access to bases and airspace critical to the operation before lifting those restrictions, underscoring the regional fragility around any renewed passage plan.
Can military escorts reopen the Strait of Hormuz, or will they ignite an even more devastating economic war?
After the first operation's failure, what is the new U.S. strategy to avoid a catastrophic escalation with Iran?