Iran fired at several vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz following the launch of a U.S. military operation named “Project Freedom,” initiated by President Donald Trump. The operation was intended to guide commercial ships that had reportedly lost safe passage near the Iranian side of the strait.
By the early hours of May 4, no cargo ships had successfully passed through the strategic waterway.
U.S. forces claimed that two ships had crossed the Strait of Hormuz safely, but Iran dismissed the statement as false.
The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East also said American troops had fired on small Iranian boats, though Iran denied the claim.
Iran later released a maritime map showing the areas it says it controls, extending far beyond the Strait of Hormuz into parts of international waters, including areas near the coast of the UAE.
South Korea announced that one of its commercial ships had come under attack in the Strait of Hormuz, while the United Kingdom maritime security authority reported that two ships were attacked near a port on the UAE side.
A UAE oil trading company also stated that an empty vessel had been struck by Iranian drones.
As of now, the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of the world’s oil supply passes, remains closed.
