Trump Reportedly Mulling 'Project Freedom' Restart After Gulf States Lift Curbs On Military Access
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Posted Zero Hedge
BREAKING: A senior U.S. official says the U.S. struck Iran’s Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas, but stressed the attacks do not signal a renewed war, reports Fox News.
During the night hours in Iran, state media has been issuing contradictory reports of mystery explosions along the Hormuz corridor. It's as yet unclear what's happening, but reports say a pier was struck near Bandar Abbas, with other southern areas witnessing possible drone activity, and return anti-air fire. There's little that's confirmable at this early point. Via DropSite:
- Iran’s IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency reports that some Iranian sources are alleging “hostile action” by the UAE at Bahman Qeshm Dock near Bandar Abbas, though no official confirmation has been issued.
- Some reports claimed air defenses responded to two drones after multiple explosions were heard in the Bandar Abbas area.
- Other sources alleged the UAE, described by Tasnim as acting “as a tool of the Zionist regime,” was behind the incident at the dock.
- Tasnim emphasized the claims remain unconfirmed
- Iran's Mehr says air defenses shot down two 'hostile' drones over Bandar Abbas and Qeshm.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted restrictions on the U.S. military’s use of their bases and airspace imposed after the start of the American operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. and Saudi officials, easing a hurdle that had tripped up President Trump’s effort to move ships through the vital waterway.
The Trump administration is now looking to restart the operation to guide commercial ships with naval and air support that it had paused after 36 hours this week, U.S. officials said.
It isn’t clear when that could happen though Pentagon officials gave a timeline of as early as this week.
The U.S. operation to force open the strait relied on an enormous fleet of aircraft to protect commercial ships from Iranian missiles and drones, making Saudi and Kuwaiti bases and airspace critical to its execution.
The kneejerk reaction was higher oil prices...
...and the odds of a peace deal by the end of next week lower...
Trump had suspended the effort, called Project Freedom, on Tuesday evening, after a phone call with the kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in which the de facto Saudi leader conveyed his concerns and advised the president of the decision about base and airspace restrictions, the Saudi officials said. The president tried to get the Gulf leader to back down, they said.
