Trump says US "secretly" helped over 200 merchant ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz

Odaily Planet Daily News US President Trump said on the 10th that the US military has "secretly" helped over 200 merchant ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump posted on social media that day, saying that last month he ordered the US military to carry out a secret mission to provide support for oil tankers and other merchant ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Currently, this operation has facilitated "the smooth passage of more than 100 million barrels of oil through the strait and into the open market, with over 200 merchant ships safely transiting the strait." He also claimed that "it is the United States, not Iran, that controls the Strait of Hormuz." In early May, the US military launched the "Freedom Plan" to help clear the passage of stranded ships in the Strait of Hormuz, but Trump quickly announced a suspension of the operation shortly after. According to US media reports, because the operation was not coordinated with Gulf allies in advance, it caused dissatisfaction from Saudi Arabia, which refused the US military the use of Saudi bases and airspace. Since then, Trump has repeatedly stated that he may resume the "Freedom Plan" operation. Citing an anonymous US official, the New York Times reported on May 31 that over the past three weeks, the US military had "quietly" guided approximately 70 merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz. (Jin Shi)