U.S. military says two American merchant ships transit Strait of Hormuz safely

Ships and oil tankers sail in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman’s Musandam coast on April 18 (local time). [Reuters/Yonhap]

U.S. Central Command said on May 4 local time that two U.S. merchant ships safely transited the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Reuters and other outlets, Central Command said in a post on X that U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers passed through the strait to support the “Liberation Project” and are now operating in the Arabian Gulf.

Central Command said it is taking active steps to help resume commercial shipping. As a first step, it said, two U.S. merchant ships successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz and are sailing safely.

Iranian media earlier reported that a U.S. Navy frigate attempting to transit the strait was hit by two Iranian military missiles in the Gulf of Oman and retreated. The U.S. military immediately denied the claim.

President Donald Trump said the “Liberation Project” would begin that day to help third-country vessels stuck in the Strait of Hormuz exit safely.

* This article has been translated by AI.

Hong Seung Woo