U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday its forces have sunk six small Iranian boasts near the Strait of Hormuz as part of US President Donald Trump’s “Project Freedom”.
“U.S. Forces sank six Iranian small boats near the Strait of Hormuz amid President Donald Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ on Monday,” said CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said a press call with reporters.
“Today, we saw just six, and eliminated them quickly,” Cooper said. “We have an enormous amount of capability and firepower concentrated in and around the Strait, including 864 Apache and MH 60 Seahawk helicopters used just this morning to eliminate six Iranian small boats threatening commercial shipping,” he added.
“Vessels currently in the Arabian Gulf represent 87 countries from around the world, and as the President mentioned, they are merely neutral and innocent bystanders,” he added.
He noted that over the last 12 hours, U.S. forces have reached out to dozens of ships and shipping companies to encourage traffic flow through the Strait of Hormuz, consistent with the president’s intent to help guide ships safely through the narrow trade corridor.
Cooper added that Iran’s military capability has been “dramatically degraded”, noting that Iran historically has deployed “between 20 and 40 small boats” when harassing vessels in the strait.
