U.S. President Donald Trump launched 'Project Freedom' on Monday, May 4, 2026, deploying the U.S. Navy to secure the Strait of Hormuz and guarantee freedom of navigation for commercial shipping, according to the Pentagon. The operation immediately triggered a military response from Iran, which sought to maintain control over the strategic waterway vital to global energy supplies.

Iranian forces struck several commercial vessels transiting the region and launched an attack on an oil terminal in the United Arab Emirates, causing a fire at the facility, UAE officials confirmed. At least a handful of ships were damaged, though casualty figures remain unclear. The U.S. military said it destroyed six Iranian small boats engaged in offensive maneuvers.

The escalation represents the most intense combat in the region since a ceasefire was announced four weeks ago, shattering a fragile calm. American, British, and French naval assets are now on high alert in the northern Persian Gulf.

The U.S. State Department urged de-escalation and called on regional allies to bolster maritime security coordination. The United Nations Security Council is expected to convene an emergency session Tuesday to address the renewed hostilities.