Ziggy Ojiegbe

The United States military said Monday it engaged Iranian forces and sank six small boats as it moved to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy shipments, amid renewed tensions with Tehran.

The operation came as the United Arab Emirates reported it had come under direct attack from Iran for the first time since a fragile ceasefire took hold in early April, raising fears of a broader escalation in the region.

According to U.S. officials, two American-flagged merchant vessels successfully transited the strait under military protection as part of a newly launched effort to restore commercial navigation through the narrow waterway.

The mission, described by President Donald Trump as “Project Freedom,” is intended to assist hundreds of ships that have been stranded in the Persian Gulf since Iran effectively closed the passage following the outbreak of hostilities earlier this year.

U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper said American forces had established a secure corridor free of Iranian mines and had repelled multiple threats, including cruise missiles, drones and fast-attack boats targeting civilian vessels under escort.

Cooper said U.S. helicopters destroyed six Iranian boats during the confrontation and insisted that all immediate threats had been neutralized, emphasizing that commanders in the region retained full authority to defend both military assets and commercial shipping.

The U.S. had earlier warned that any attempt by Iran to block transit through the strait would be met with force, framing the operation in part as a humanitarian effort to assist stranded seafarers and stabilize global trade flows.

Iran, however, condemned the move as a violation of the ceasefire and signaled it would continue to assert control over the waterway.

State media characterized the U.S. operation as provocative, while military officials warned that any foreign forces entering or approaching the strait would be targeted.

The latest attacks appeared to reflect that stance, with Iranian forces launching missiles and deploying drones in and around the strategic corridor.

In the UAE, authorities said four cruise missiles were fired toward the country, with three intercepted and the fourth falling into the sea.

In the eastern emirate of Fujairah, an Iranian drone strike ignited a fire at a major oil facility, injuring three Indian nationals. British military monitors also reported that two cargo ships were ablaze off the UAE coast, though details of those incidents remained unclear.

The violence extended beyond Emirati territory. Oman reported that a residential building near the strait had been struck, wounding two foreign workers and causing damage to nearby vehicles and property.

Meanwhile, South Korea said an explosion and fire had broken out aboard one of its operated vessels anchored near the UAE, though no injuries were reported. It was not immediately confirmed whether that ship was among those reported burning at sea.

The renewed hostilities come as global markets remain on edge over the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply typically passes.

Iran’s closure of the route in the early stages of the conflict triggered a sharp rise in fuel prices and heightened concerns about economic fallout across Europe and Asia, both heavily dependent on Gulf energy exports.

While the U.S. says it has now reopened a navigable lane, questions remain about whether shipping companies and insurers will be willing to risk transit given the continuing threat of attack.

Adding to the pressure on Tehran, Washington has enforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports since mid-April, turning back dozens of commercial vessels and cutting into Iran’s oil revenues.

U.S. officials have expressed hope that the combined economic and military pressure will force concessions from Iran in negotiations over longstanding disputes, including its nuclear program.

Iran, for its part, has proposed an end to the conflict conditioned on the lifting of sanctions, the removal of the blockade and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region, though it has indicated that discussions over its nuclear activities remain off the table.

As both sides exchange warnings and limited strikes, the situation in and around the strait remains volatile. The reopening of a protected shipping lane may ease some immediate economic concerns, but the continued attacks underscore how fragile the ceasefire has become and how quickly the confrontation could escalate into a wider conflict.