Lead

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Monday that two US-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, marking a first step in an operation to restore commercial shipping through the crucial waterway. The announcement came as US Navy guided-missile destroyers entered the Gulf to counter an Iranian blockade, according to multiple reports.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from Deutsche Welle, the Jerusalem Post (citing Reuters), and Yonhap News all confirm CENTCOM's statement that two US-flagged merchant ships passed through the strait without incident. The operation, dubbed "Project Freedom," was announced by President Donald Trump on Sunday and began on Monday, according to Yonhap.

The Jerusalem Post, in articles dated May 5 and May 6, provided additional details about the ships involved. The first vessel, the Alliance Fairfax, a US-flagged vehicle carrier operated by Maersk's Farrell Lines subsidiary, exited the Gulf on Monday accompanied by US military assets, Maersk confirmed. The second, the CS Anthem, a chemical tanker operated by Crowley-Stena Marine Solutions, also completed its transit on Monday, as reported by its operator.

Deutsche Welle noted that Iran had previously warned that US efforts to guide commercial ships through the strait would be considered a violation of the ceasefire. Neither Yonhap nor the Jerusalem Post articles directly addressed this warning, though Yonhap reported that Iran had earlier claimed to have struck a US warship, a claim CENTCOM denied.

Key Claims

  • Two US-flagged merchant vessels successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on May 4, 2026, as announced by CENTCOM and confirmed by multiple sources, including Deutsche Welle, Yonhap, and the Jerusalem Post.
  • The operation is called "Project Freedom" and includes guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft, and 15,000 service members, according to CENTCOM as reported by Yonhap.
  • Iran had previously said it would consider US efforts to guide commercial ships through the strait as a violation of the ceasefire, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
  • The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway, carrying about 20% of the world's oil before its virtual closure, according to the Jerusalem Post.
  • The Alliance Fairfax was the first vessel to transit, accompanied by US military assets, as reported by the Jerusalem Post and confirmed by Maersk.
  • The CS Anthem was the second vessel, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, citing its operator Crowley-Stena Marine Solutions.
  • Three other US-flagged ships remain in the Gulf, according to three sources cited by the Jerusalem Post. One of these, the tanker Stena Imperative, was hit by projectiles in Bahrain in early March and is now in dry dock.
  • The UAE has accused Iran of using drones to attack an empty oil tanker, a claim reported only by Deutsche Welle and not yet independently verified by other sources in this coverage.

Perspectives

US Military / CENTCOM

CENTCOM frames the operation as a necessary measure to restore freedom of navigation and support commercial shipping, emphasizing the success of the first transits and the scale of the military assets involved. The command denies any Iranian attacks on US vessels, calling such reports false.

Iranian Government

Iran has not directly commented on the transits in the reports, but previously warned that US efforts to guide ships through the strait would violate the ceasefire. Iranian state media claimed to have struck a US warship, a claim CENTCOM denied. Iran has sought to control the strait, while the US has enforced a blockade on Iranian ports, according to Deutsche Welle.

Shipping Companies

Maersk and Crowley-Stena confirmed the safe transit of their vessels, emphasizing the safety of crew and successful completion of the voyage. Maersk noted that the Alliance Fairfax is part of the US Maritime Security Program, which provides stipends to commercial vessels that guarantee transport for the US military during emergencies.

Regional Concerns

The UAE has accused Iran of using drones to attack an empty oil tanker, raising concerns about broader regional instability. The virtual closure of the strait has stranded hundreds of ships, including three other US-flagged vessels still in the Gulf, according to sources cited by the Jerusalem Post.