CENTCOM says ships in Arabian Gulf neutral, urges safe passage under ‘project freedom’

DUBAI: US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said that vessels currently operating in the Arabian Gulf represent 87 countries and are “neutral and innocent bystanders” in the ongoing tensions.

He said that over the past 12 hours, US forces have reached out to dozens of ships and shipping companies to encourage continued traffic through the Strait of Hormuz under the framework of “Project Freedom.”

The aim, he said, is to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the narrow and strategically important waterway.

Admiral Cooper added that the initiative is aligned with President Donald Trump’s intent to help guide ships safely through the region and maintain stability in global shipping routes.

Meanwhile, a South Korean merchant vessel caught fire following an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, while Iranian drones reportedly struck an oil facility in the United Arab Emirates, escalating tensions in the key Middle East shipping corridor after the United States announced a new naval escort mission.

The blaze aboard the Panama-flagged cargo ship operated by South Korea’s HMM broke out in the engine room, according to company and maritime reports. Authorities said there were no casualties, but the incident added to growing concerns among shipping operators over the safety of transiting the strategic waterway.

At the same time, the UAE reported a fire at an oil installation in the port of Fujairah following what officials described as an Iranian drone attack.

The port, located outside the Strait, is one of the region’s critical export hubs that bypasses direct passage through the chokepoint.

The developments came shortly after Trump announced a new naval operation aimed at ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through the strait, a route that carries a significant share of global oil supplies.

US officials said two American-flagged merchant ships had already passed through under escort, though Iran denied any such crossings.