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Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said Monday that American forces “quickly” eliminated six small Iranian boats operating in the Strait of Hormuz.
Cooper told reporters that Iran typically deploys between 20 and 40 small vessels to harass ships in the narrow corridor, a critical global shipping route through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes. He said the limited number of boats involved in the latest encounter suggests Iran’s capabilities have been significantly reduced.
U.S. forces in the region maintain what Cooper described as an “enormous amount of capability and firepower,” including attack helicopters that were used in the operation.
The developments come a day after President Donald Trump announced a new initiative, “Project Freedom,” aimed at escorting foreign commercial vessels safely out of the strait amid ongoing tensions.
President Trump later said the number of Iranian boats destroyed had risen to seven and accused Iran of targeting neutral shipping.
“Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement, PROJECT FREEDOM, including a South Korean Cargo Ship,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“Perhaps it’s time for South Korea to come and join the mission! We’ve shot down seven small Boats or, as they like to call them, ‘fast’ Boats. It’s all they have left. It’s all they have left. Other than the South Korean Ship, there has been, at this moment, no damage going through the Strait. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, will have a News Conference tomorrow morning. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he added.
President Trump previously announced Project Freedom to assist countries and commercial vessels stranded by the ongoing standoff in the region.
“Countries from all over the world, almost all of which are not involved in the Middle Eastern dispute going on so visibly and violently for all to see, have asked the United States if we could help free up their ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz, on something which they have absolutely nothing to do with — They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders!” he wrote on Truth Social.
