Trump Pauses Project Freedom After Saudi Access Row
Trump halted a short-lived Strait of Hormuz escort mission after Saudi Arabia denied base access, then Saudi and Kuwait reportedly reopened bases, potentially allowing a restart.
Raw StoryTrump's abrupt change of plans in the Middle East shocks observers
New York PostTrump could revive ‘Project Freedom’ to reopen Strait of Hormuz after secret spat with Gulf allies: report
Breitbart NewsReport: Saudi Arabia Blocked ‘Project Freedom’ by Denying U.S. Access to Bases
Daily BeastStunning Reason for Trump War Plan Reversal Exposed
Just the NewsGulf ally Saudi Arabia pressured Trump to end his Strait of Hormuz ship escort operations
Overview
President Donald Trump paused 'Project Freedom' on Tuesday after U.S. officials said Saudi Arabia denied use of its airbases and airspace, forcing a halt less than 48 hours after the mission began.
The operation, launched on Monday, aimed to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz and depended on U.S. aircraft based in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Pentagon officials and reporting said.
The White House denied Gulf states had restricted U.S. access, while U.S., Saudi and Pakistani officials held calls to resolve the dispute, reporting said.
The Strait of Hormuz carries about a fifth of the world’s oil supply, and U.S. and Iranian forces traded fire during the operation, with U.S. forces sinking six small attack boats, reporting said.
Pentagon officials said escorts could resume as early as this week if Gulf bases reopen, but an Iranian parliament official warned the U.S. against restarting the operation, reporting said.
Analysis
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