US deploys forces to Strait of Hormuz for 'Freedom of Navigation' op

U.S. Central Command announced on May 4 that it has begun supporting a 'Freedom of Navigation' operation in the Strait of Hormuz. The mission, carried out under a presidential order, aims to assist merchant vessels transiting the key international trade route, which accounts for a quarter of the world's seaborne oil trade and a large volume of fuel and fertilizer products. General Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, emphasized the defensive mission's critical importance to regional security and the global economy while maintaining a maritime blockade. The operation follows the U.S. State Department's earlier announcement of the 'Maritime Freedom Initiative,' a new program with the Department of Defense that combines diplomatic efforts with military coordination to enhance cooperation and information sharing among international partners. The U.S. military is deploying a missile destroyer, over 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 personnel for the operation.