CentCom Says 2 American Ships Made It Through Hormuz

The US military on Monday denied claims that Iran struck a Navy vessel as US forces begin to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where hundreds have been stuck since the Iran war began. Tehran over the past two months has attacked some vessels and blocked others that don't receive its authorization. Central Command also said two American-flagged merchant ships have "successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz" and that that Navy guided-missile destroyers in the Persian Gulf are helping to restore commercial shipping traffic, reports the AP. The statement on X said the destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz "in support of Project Freedom" and that the merchant ships are "safely headed on their journey." It did not say when the Navy ships arrived or when the merchant vessels departed.

Shortly after the announcement, authorities in the United Arab Emirates issued an emergency missile alert urging residents to immediately seek shelter. It was the first such alert since a ceasefire in the Iran war went into effect in early April. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Iranian news agencies, including the semi-official Fars and the Iranian Labor News Agency, had earlier claimed that Iran struck a US vessel near an Iranian port southeast of the strait, accusing it of "violating maritime security and navigation norms." The reports said the vessel was forced to turn back. Central Command said on social media that "no U.S. Navy ships have been struck."

The US military has said the new initiative, announced by President Trump on Sunday, might involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, and 15,000 service members, but has not specified what kind of assistance it would provide. The US-led Joint Maritime Information Center has advised ships to cross the strait in Oman's waters, saying it has set up an "enhanced security area." It was unclear whether shipping companies, and their insurers, will feel comfortable taking the risk given that Iran has fired on ships in the waterway and vowed to keep doing so. Trump's announcement that the US would "guide" ships out of the strait warned that Iranian efforts to block them "will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully." The US has warned shipping companies they could face sanctions for paying Iran for transit of the strait.