US launches Operation Project Freedom to break Iranian blockade in Strait of Hormuz.

The United States has launched Operation Project Freedom to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Iran effectively shut down one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, resulting in a global collapse in shipping traffic by over 90 percent. Confirmed by U.S. Central Command on May 4, 2026, the operation aims to reestablish even limited transit under combat conditions, directly challenging Iran’s ability to disrupt global oil flows and testing U.S. capacity to maintain maritime access under sustained missile, drone, and mine threats.

Initial operations focus on securing narrow transit lanes and defending individual vessels with air and naval firepower rather than full convoy escorts, highlighting a shift toward flexible, threat-responsive protection in contested waters. This approach reflects broader trends in modern naval warfare, where layered air defense, ISR, and rapid strike capabilities are used to counter asymmetric denial strategies and sustain limited but critical mobility in high-risk maritime chokepoints.

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For Operation Project Freedom, U.S. Central Command deployed Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, helicopters, aircraft carriers, F-16 fighter jets, drones, and about 15,000 troops to protect commercial ships and try to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. (Picture source: CENTCOM)

On May 4, 2026, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched Operation Project Freedom to restore commercial transit through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran imposed an effective closure following the February 28 U.S.-Israel strikes, disrupting a corridor that normally carries close to 20% of global oil and LNG flows. Traffic levels fell from an estimated 110 to 120 ships per day before the conflict to fewer than 10 daily movements, with several days recording zero transits, reducing throughput to less than 10% of normal capacity. The disruption has affected about 2,000 vessels and roughly 20,000 seafarers, many of whom have remained at sea for extended periods with limited access to resupply and crew rotation.

U.S. forces have maintained a parallel naval blockade of Iranian ports since mid-April, diverting at least 49 vessels and restricting maritime flows linked to Iran. Initial operational activity included the supported transit of two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels through the strait under military protection. As the waterway’s closure has directly increased pressure on global energy markets, Project Freedom aims to restore a minimum transit capability in its first phase. The escalation sequence began on February 28, 2026, when coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian infrastructure, prompting Tehran to restrict access to the strait using missile threats, mines, drone operations, and maritime harassment.

Between March and early April, transit volumes declined by more than 90%, with recorded daily movements dropping into single digits and some periods showing no inbound traffic from the Arabian Sea. A ceasefire announced in early April reduced direct air strikes but did not halt maritime incidents, with continued attacks on vessels and infrastructure near the United Arab Emirates and along the Gulf of Oman. Between April 23 and early May, only 24 transits were recorded over several days, compared to 65 during the previous week, indicating a continued downward trend. On May 3, U.S. Central Command confirmed the operational framework for Project Freedom, and by May 4, U.S. naval and air forces were engaging Iranian small boats and intercepting aerial threats.

Iranian forces continued missile and drone launches during the same period, targeting both commercial shipping and military units. Project Freedom combines navigation security tasks with immediate operational support to vessels attempting to exit or enter the Gulf under threat conditions. U.S. forces are verifying transit corridors to ensure they are free of naval mines, following concerns that mines may have been deployed by Iran in narrow shipping channels. Air defense coverage is provided by a mix of fighter jets and vessels to counter anti-ship cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones launched from coastal or mobile platforms.

Attack helicopters have been used to engage small surface threats operating near commercial vessels, including fast attack craft used in swarm tactics. Current rules of engagement allow preemptive action against identified threats, including vessels and aerial systems approaching shipping lanes. The operation does not involve a structured convoy system with multiple warships escorting groups of tankers through the strait. Instead, individual or small groups of vessels are supported during transit windows under localized protection, limiting coverage to selected movements. 

The force structure of Project Freedom includes about 15,000 U.S. personnel supported by Arleigh Burke-class destroyers equipped with air defense and strike capabilities, although the number deployed directly in the strait is limited relative to operational requirements. The 100 aircraft deployed include F-16 fighters assigned to air defense roles, as well as carrier-based aircraft operating from strike groups positioned in the Arabian Sea. Carrier strike groups built around USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush provide extended air coverage and command capabilities across the Gulf and Arabian Sea. Rotary-wing assets, including attack helicopters, have conducted direct engagements with Iranian small boats, with at least six vessels destroyed during initial operations.

Unmanned systems are used for continuous ISR coverage, tracking missile launches, drone activity, and maritime movements across the operational area. Mine countermeasure ships are being deployed to detect and neutralize potential underwater threats in transit lanes. The operational concept relies on area security rather than direct escort, using air power and surveillance to detect and respond to threats rather than maintaining continuous proximity to merchant vessels. The Strait of Hormuz is about 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but effective navigation channels are limited to about 2 miles in width, constraining maneuver space and increasing exposure to Iran's shore-based systems.

The confined geography allows Iranian forces to operate from multiple launch points along the coastline and from mobile platforms, reducing reaction time for defensive measures. U.S. naval assets in the region include about 12 destroyers, which must be distributed between strait operations, carrier group protection, and blockade enforcement, limiting availability for escort duties. Initial implementation of Project Freedom resulted in only two to four vessels transiting under protection on the first day, far below pre-conflict traffic levels. There has been no sustained increase in daily transit numbers, indicating that the operation has not yet restored commercial confidence, as the current absence of convoy operations reduces the level of protection available to individual ships. 

Iran’s operational method is currently based on layered asymmetric denial, combining missile, mine, drone, and maritime capabilities to increase risk across the entire strait. Anti-ship cruise missiles positioned along the coast provide coverage over key transit areas, while ballistic missiles have been launched toward maritime targets and regional infrastructure. Unmanned aerial systems, including loitering munitions, are used to target vessels and complicate air defense operations. Fast attack craft and swarm boats operate in proximity to shipping lanes, allowing rapid engagement and withdrawal within confined waters. Naval mines are considered a potential threat, particularly in narrow channels where clearance operations are complex and time-consuming.

Within the first 24 to 48 hours of Project Freedom, U.S. helicopters destroyed at least six Iranian small boats, while Iran launched cruise missiles and drones against ships and U.S. forces. The United Arab Emirates reported intercepting about 15 missiles and multiple drones during the same period. Therefore, Iran's present objective is to deter commercial traffic through sustained threat exposure rather than enforce a complete blockade. The impact on commercial shipping of this strategy was immediate, with daily transits dropping from about 120 ships to single digits and, in some cases, zero movements.

Data indicates that up to 70% to 80% of vessels still transiting the strait are linked to Iran or part of shadow fleets, compared to 10% to 15% before the conflict. Major commercial operators have reduced or suspended transits due to elevated risk levels and increased insurance costs. War risk premiums have risen sharply, with insurers requiring higher coverage thresholds or declining to underwrite voyages through the strait. Energy markets have responded to the disruption, with Brent crude prices exceeding $114 per barrel in May 2026, compared to about $71 on February 27 before the conflict.

As a result, U.S. gasoline prices increased from about $2.98 per gallon before the conflict to about $4.46. Since the launch of Project Freedom, a limited number of vessels have transited under military protection, including at least one Maersk ship exiting the Gulf. A broader diplomatic coordination has been launched through the Maritime Freedom Construct, which integrates intelligence sharing, maritime domain awareness, and coordination among participating states. The new U.S. initiative seeks to align military activity with diplomatic engagement, but participation has not expanded into a large multinational naval deployment.

Iran maintains that all transit through the strait must be coordinated with its authorities and has warned that foreign military forces entering the area will be targeted. Iranian officials have classified the Project Freedom as a violation of the ceasefire and have rejected any external control over navigation in the strait. There is no agreed framework governing navigation rights, and competing claims over control of the waterway remain unresolved. The absence of such an arrangement continues to limit the effectiveness of military measures. Therefore, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained by parallel military activity and unresolved political positions. 

Operational constraints and escalation risks remain central to the assessment of Project Freedom, with geography, force allocation, and adversary capabilities shaping outcomes. The narrow and confined waters of the strait favor dispersed and mobile systems, allowing Iran to maintain pressure using relatively limited assets. U.S. forces must allocate destroyers between blockade enforcement, carrier defense, and strait operations, reducing concentration in any single area. Direct engagements have already occurred, including missile launches, drone attacks, and small boat engagements, indicating a high level of ongoing confrontation.

The effectiveness of the operation depends on sustained risk reduction sufficient to restore commercial confidence, which has not yet been achieved. Historical comparison with Operation Earnest Will in 1987-1988 shows that multiple warships were required to escort small groups of tankers, highlighting the difference in force availability. Increasing the number of deployed assets could improve coverage but would also increase the risk of escalation with Iran. Maintaining current force levels limits operational reach and leaves gaps in protection, which reflects a potential trade-off between risk containment and operational effectiveness.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.