President Trump also mentioned that the United States shot down “seven miniature” Iranian boats after Tehran took photos at various ships within the Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump on Monday mentioned that Iran had attacked commercial shipping within the Strait of Hormuz, together with a South Korean cargo vessel, and called for Seoul to establish in thoughts becoming a member of the US-led “Challenge Freedom” mission to valid the waterway.
In a submit on Truth Social, Trump mentioned, “Iran has taken some photos at unrelated Countries with respect to the Ship Lunge, PROJECT FREEDOM, together with a South Korean Cargo Ship. Maybe it’s time for South Korea to come attend and be part of the mission!”
He further claimed that US forces had intercepted a pair of vessels.
“We’ve shot down seven miniature Boats or, as they admire to name them, ‘lickety-split’ Boats. It’s all they’ve left,” he mentioned.
Trump added that, other than the reported incident provocative the South Korean ship, there had been no damage to vessels transiting the strategic Strait.
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He also announced that US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Personnel Dan Caine would address a files conference on Tuesday morning.
Earlier on Monday, Admiral Bradley Cooper, head of US Central Utter, mentioned that the US navy had “blew up” six miniature Iranian boats within the Strait of Hormuz, amid heightened tensions within the spot.
Whereas President Trump has continually claimed that Iran’s naval capabilities occupy been “obliterated,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Personnel Dan Caine acknowledged that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps continues to preserve miniature boats that would possibly maybe per chance maybe be deployed within the strategic waterway.
“Challenge Freedom,” a US-led initiative, objectives to help “merchant vessels seeking to freely transit” the Strait of Hormuz, though it would now not get formal navy escorts.
Per US Central Utter, the operation contains guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land- and sea-based airplane, multi-enviornment unmanned platforms, and around 15,000 carrier personnel.
Asked if the US navy used to be escorting ships, Cooper mentioned there were no former escorts but pretty the next, multi-layered defensive draw that incorporated ships, helicopters, airplane, and electronic struggle to protect in opposition to Iranian threats.
“Even as you’re escorting a ship, you’re taking part in additional or less one on one. I mediate now we occupy a worthy better defensive draw in this course of,” Reuters quoted him as pronouncing. “We now occupy a worthy wider defensive package than that you simply would possibly maybe maybe occupy ever if you happen to were correct escorting,” he added.
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Cooper mentioned a US blockade of Iran, which prevents ships from going to Iran or departing Iranian territory, also remained in compose and used to be exceeding expectations.
With inputs from companies
First Published:
May even merely 05, 2026, 00:37 IST
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