United States President Donald Trump has announced a naval mission called Project Freedom to help navigate stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz , which remains under a de facto Iranian blockade. The operation will start on Monday, the US president says.
Iran took control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass, days after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28.
Despite Trump’s announcement, oil prices have failed to ease as the international benchmark Brent crude was essentially flat on Monday morning.
In response to Trump, top Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi said any US interference in the strait would be considered a violation of the ceasefire.
Here is what we know as the conflict enters day 66:
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says the maritime security threat level in the Strait of Hormuz remains critical due to ongoing military operations.
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), Israeli forces also dropped flares over Braachit overnight and shelled the outskirts of the towns of Safad El Battikh, Yater, Majdel Selm and Chaitiyeh.
