USCENTCOM: To Provide Missile Destroyers and Aircraft for Hormuz Strait Operation

On May 4, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the military will launch support for **Operation Freedom** that day, aiming to restore freedom of navigation for commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The President-ordered mission seeks to enable safe transit for ships through this critical international trade route. Roughly one-quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade—plus significant volumes of fuel and fertilizer—moves through the strait. CENTCOM Commander General Frank McKenzie noted: “Support for this defensive mission is critical to regional security and global economic stability as we uphold maritime security in the area.” Last week, the U.S. State Department and Department of Defense (DoD) unveiled a new initiative to boost coordination and information sharing among international partners for strait maritime security. The **Maritime Freedom Initiative** aligns diplomatic efforts with military coordination, a key pillar of Operation Freedom. U.S. military support for the operation includes missile destroyers, more than 100 land/sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned systems, and 15,000 personnel. (BlockBeats)