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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth revealed Tuesday that six ships attempted to bypass the U.S. military’s blockade of Iranian ports during the operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but they were all turned around.
“In fact, six ships tried to run the blockade out of Iranian ports as Project Freedom commenced, and they were all turned around,” Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump declared in a Truth Social post on Sunday that the U.S. would launch “Project Freedom” to help ships from other nations escape the Strait of Hormuz.
“To be clear, this operation is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury. Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope and temporary in duration, with one mission: protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression,” Hegseth said.
HEGSETH SAYS US HAS ESTABLISHED ‘RED, WHITE AND BLUE’ DOME OVER SHIPPING IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine speak to members of the media during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)
“Iran is the clear aggressor, harassing civilian vessels, threatening mariners from every nation indiscriminately, and weaponizing a critical chokepoint for its own financial benefit, or at least trying to,” he continued. “For too long, Iran has been harassing ships, shooting at civilian tankers from all nations and trying to impose a tolling system. Iran’s plan, a form of international extortion, is unacceptable. That ends with Project Freedom.”
Hegseth said Tuesday that “All of these ships from all around the world want to get out of the Iranian trap that they have been stuck inside.”
“As a direct gift from the United States to the world, we have established a powerful red, white and blue dome over the strait. American destroyers are on station, supported by hundreds of fighter jets, helicopters, drones and surveillance aircraft, providing 24/7 overwatch for peaceful commercial vessels. Except Iran’s, of course. Which is why our ironclad blockade remains in full effect as well,” Hegseth added.
TRUMP OPENS HORMUZ UNDER FIRE WITH ‘PROJECT FREEDOM’ AS IRAN WARNS OF ATTACKS
USS George H.W. Bush is seen transiting the Arabian Sea as U.S. forces enforce the naval blockade against Iran from the Gulf of Oman and support Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Central Command. (CENTCOM)
He also said, “We prefer this to be a peaceful operation, but are locked and loaded to defend our people, our ships, our aircraft, and this mission, without hesitation.”
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine said Tuesday that as a result of Iran’s “indiscriminate” attacks across the region, there are 22,500 mariners embarked on more than 1,550 commercial vessels trapped in the Arabian Gulf, unable to transit.
Caine said U.S. Central Command has “established an enhanced security area on the southern side of the strait that is now protected by U.S. land, naval and air assets to help defeat further Iranian aggression against commercial shipping.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth holds a briefing on the Iran war, with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
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“On the surface, guided missile destroyers and other warships are detecting and defeating Iranian threats. This includes fast boats in one-way attack drones,” he added. “In the air, more than 100 fighters, attack aircraft and other manned and unmanned aircraft synchronized by the 82nd Airborne Division are in the air 24 hours a day, providing defensive overwatch for the enhanced security area.”
Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.