US Navy Operation in Hormuz Aims to Protect Commercial Ships, Says Hegseth

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said intelligence showed Iran’s nuclear program was severely damaged by recent US strikes. (AP)

US Navy Operation in Hormuz Aims to Protect Commercial Ships, Says Hegseth

The United States has clarified that its ongoing naval operation in the Strait of Hormuz is strictly defensive, temporary, and limited in scope, amid rising tensions in one of the world’s most sensitive maritime routes.

The US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, said the operation—referred to by US officials as “Project Freedom”—is separate from other regional military activities, including what he described as “Operation Epic Fury.”

“To be clear, this operation is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury,” Hegseth said at a Pentagon briefing. “Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope and temporary in duration, with one mission: Protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression.”

Hegseth explained that the mission is aimed at safeguarding civilian vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz shipping route, a critical passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and one of the most important corridors for global oil transport. He said the operation is designed to ensure the safe movement of commercial vessels and prevent disruptions to international maritime trade, stressing that it is not intended to escalate military confrontation in the region.

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According to him, two US commercial vessels have already transited the strait under the operation’s protection, while several other ships attempting to approach restricted waters were turned back. He also claimed that six vessels that attempted to violate what he described as a blockade of Iranian ports were redirected, although full operational details were not provided.

The development follows earlier remarks by US President Donald Trump, who announced that the US would begin assisting stranded vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump described the initiative as a humanitarian effort aimed at helping neutral countries affected by regional tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran. He said some ships were reportedly stranded and facing shortages of food and supplies due to restricted movement in the waterway. However, US officials have released limited details on the scope of the mission or the number of vessels involved.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most strategically important and sensitive maritime corridors in the world, with a significant portion of global oil shipments passing through it daily. The area has repeatedly been a flashpoint during geopolitical tensions involving Iran and Western powers, prompting frequent naval deployments and security escorts by multiple countries.

US officials maintain that the current operation is strictly precautionary and temporary, aimed at preventing escalation while ensuring the uninterrupted flow of global trade through the Strait of Hormuz maritime corridor.