‘Project Freedom’ continues as defensive, ceasefire still stays despite Strait tension

WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that Washington’s military operation, Project Freedom, remains limited in scope and defensive in nature, as tensions persist in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to reporters, Hegseth stressed that a ceasefire between the United States and Iran is still holding despite recent exchanges of fire in the Gulf.

“The ceasefire is not over,” he said, adding that US forces have acted decisively to defend commercial shipping.

The comments come after a fragile truce in the Middle East came under renewed strain, with both sides accusing each other of aggression as they vie for influence over the critical maritime route.

US President Donald Trump launched Project Freedom on Monday, describing it as an effort to secure the vital shipping lane after Iran effectively disrupted traffic through the strait following the outbreak of conflict on February 28.

Hegseth reiterated that the operation is not aimed at escalation, emphasizing that American forces will not enter Iranian territory.

“Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope and temporary in duration, with one mission, protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression,” he said.

Meanwhile, the US and Iran launched fresh attacks in the Gulf today (Tuesday), intensifying their standoff over control of the Strait and shaking a fragile ceasefire in the region.

The exchange of missile and drone strikes came as Trump announced a new initiative, dubbed “Project Freedom”, aimed at escorting stranded commercial vessels through the strategic waterway, a key global energy route that has remained largely disrupted since the conflict escalated earlier this year.

Explosions and fires were reported on several merchant ships in the Gulf, while the US said it had destroyed six small Iranian military boats. Following this, An oil facility in the United Arab Emirates was set ablaze following reported Iranian missile strikes.

Washington’s move marked its first apparent attempt to use military force to reopen the shipping corridor since a ceasefire was announced last month. However, the effort appeared to yield limited results, with major shipping companies reluctant to resume transit amid ongoing hostilities.