In New Escalation, US Attempts to Force Open Strait as Iran Fires on Boats |
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The tenuous ceasefire between Iran and the United States that was established last month appears to have ended, though no official announcement has been made, as Iran launched missile and drone attacks on vessels while the U.S. began a new operation, “Project Freedom,” to escort ships in and out of the Strait of Hormuz.
After the U.S. announced its plan to guide ships through the waterway, Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, the commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced that “any foreign armed force, especially the invading U.S. army, if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz, will be subjected to attack.”
Dubai-based journalist Natasha Turak indicated that “Project Freedom” would be considered by Tehran to be a “violation of the ceasefire.”
On Monday, U.S. vessels began escorting ships out of the strait. Shortly after, there were reports that one of its warships had been struck by Iranian missiles, which CENTCOM denied.
Later, CENTCOM head Adm. Brad Cooper acknowledged that Iran had opened fire on U.S. warships. He refused to say whether the action by Iran constituted an end to the ceasefire agreement.
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