Project Freedom in action.
U.S. forces struck fast and hard in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, sinking six Iranian small boats in a direct confrontation that underscores the escalating pressure campaign under President Donald Trump’s “Project Freedom.”
U.S. Central Command confirmed the engagement during a press call, signaling a sharp shift in the balance of power in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.
CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the Iranian presence was notably diminished compared to past encounters.
“Today, we saw just six, and eliminated them quickly,” Cooper said.
The remark highlights what U.S. officials describe as a steep decline in Iran’s operational capability in the region.
Historically, Iran has deployed “between 20 and 40 small boats” to harass vessels transiting the strait — a key chokepoint for global oil shipments.
Monday’s encounter, by contrast, saw only a fraction of that force.
Cooper credited overwhelming U.S. firepower for the rapid outcome.
“We have an enormous amount of capability and firepower concentrated in and around the Strait,” he said, pointing to the use of Apache attack helicopters and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters in the operation.
According to CENTCOM, those assets were deployed during the engagement and were instrumental in neutralizing the Iranian boats, which officials said were threatening commercial shipping.
The strike is the latest sign that U.S. forces are aggressively enforcing security in the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions have surged amid the broader conflict with Iran.
This story is developing…
🚨 NOW: US forces have ELIMINATED 6 Iranian "small boats" who tried to interfere with commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz — Admiral Brad Cooper
FAFO, IRAN! 🔥
"CENTCOM has defeated MULTIPLE Iranian ballistic missile launches, drones, and has sunk 6 Iranian small boats."… pic.twitter.com/sAKrpMasiN
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 4, 2026
