Several US Navy warships crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, marking the first time American vessels have transited the waterway since the war with Iran began.
As Hvylya reports, citing Axios correspondent Barak Ravid, a senior US official confirmed the warships entered the strait from east to west into the Gulf, then returned eastward through the strait to the Arabian Sea. The move was not coordinated with Iran.
"This was an operation focused on freedom of navigation through international waters," the senior American official said.
Shortly after the reports, president Donald Trump posted a lengthy statement declaring Iran is "losing, and losing big." He listed the destruction of Iran's navy, air force, air defense systems, radar, and missile and drone factories as evidence. Trump also claimed all 28 Iranian mine-laying vessels now sit at the bottom of the sea.
"We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to countries all over the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others," Trump wrote, adding that those countries lack "the courage or will" to do it themselves.
President also noted that empty oil tankers from multiple nations are heading to the United States to load American oil.