The US military yesterday denied claims that Iran struck a US Navy vessel as US forces offer to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where hundreds have been stuck since the Iran war began.
Tehran over the past two months has attacked some vessels and blocked others that have not receive its authorization.
The US military’s Central Command also said two US-flagged merchant ships have “successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz” and that navy guided-missile destroyers in the Persian Gulf are helping to restore commercial shipping traffic.
Photo: AP
The statement on X said the destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz “in support of Project Freedom” and that the merchant ships are “safely headed on their journey.” It did not say when the navy ships arrived or when the merchant vessels departed.
Shortly after the announcement, authorities in the United Arab Emirates issued an emergency missile alert urging residents to immediately seek shelter. It was the first such alert since a ceasefire in the Iran war went into effect early last month. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Iranian news agencies, including the semiofficial Fars and the Iranian Labour News Agency, had earlier claimed that Tehran struck a US vessel near an Iranian port southeast of the strait, accusing it of “violating maritime security and navigation norms.” The reports said the vessel was forced to turn back.
The US Central Command said on social media that “no US Navy ships have been struck.”
The US military has said the new initiative, announced by US President Donald Trump on Sunday, might involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and 15,000 service members, but has not specified what kind of assistance it would provide. The US-led Joint Maritime Information Center has advised ships to cross the strait in Oman’s waters, saying it set up an “enhanced security area.”
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