Trump's 'Project Freedom' sinks six Iranian boats in Strait of Hormuz: U.S. Central Command

Iran typically deploys many times more boats, and the small number, a U.S. Central Command official said, suggests Iran's military capabilities have been degraded.

By Kevin Killough

Published: May 4, 2026 2:30pm

U.S. Central Command Adm. Brad Cooper told reporters Monday that U.S. Forces "quickly" eliminated six small Iranian boats.

President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the U.S. would begin guiding ships from other nations out of the Strait of Hormuz, which is a primary shipping artery through which 20% of the world's oil is exported.

Cooper said that Iran typically sends between 20 and 40 small boats to harass vessels in the strait, and the fact only six were deployed suggests that Iran's military capability has been "dramatically degraded," Fox News reported.

U.S. forces have an "enormous amount of capability and firepower" operating in the strait, which includes attack helicopters that were used in the operation to eliminate the six bots.