US President Donald Trump announced on May 4 that the United States would begin assisting ships stranded in the Gulf due to the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, in what he called ''Project Freedom''. The US is now deploying 15,000 military personnel, over 100 aircraft, warships and drones to "guide" the stranded vessels.
Iran has blocked most shipping through the Strait for more than two months in retaliation for US-Israeli actions. The US imposed its own naval blockade on Iranian ports last month. As a result, hundreds of ships and up to 20,000 seafarers have been stuck in the vital waterway, running low on food and supplies