Tensions escalate in the Gulf as Trump launches 'Project Freedom' to secure shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, threatening Iran with severe consequences. The US military claims to have destroyed Iranian vessels and intercepted missiles, while Iran retaliated with drone attacks on the UAE.
Key points
Trump launched 'Project Freedom' to secure shipping in Hormuz
Over 800 ships and 20,000 crew members are stranded
US military claims to have destroyed Iranian boats and intercepted missiles
Iran attacked the UAE with drones and missiles
Trump threatened to obliterate Iran if US vessels are attacked
Mentioned in this story
Donald TrumpStrait of HormuzUS Central CommandUnited Arab Emirates
Project Freedom
Good morning.
Donald Trump has again raised the stakes in the Gulf region with the Monday launch of “Project Freedom” to open a route through the strait of Hormuz. More than 800 ships and roughly 20,000 crew members remain stranded in the region.
Just hours after the operation began, the US military said it destroyed six small Iranian boats and interceptedIranian cruise missiles and drones – a claim that was denied by Iran – and Iran attacked the United Arab Emirates with drones and missiles, setting the oil port of Fujairah on fire.
Have any vessels made it out of the strait? US Central Command (Centcom) said two US-flagged merchant vessels had “successfully transited” the strait, but Iran has denied this claim. Late on Monday, the container shipping company Maersk said the Alliance Fairfax – a US-flagged vehicle carrier – exited the Gulf. Shipping industry experts remain skeptical about whether vessels will be able to travel safely to and from the Gulf under Trump’s plan.
This is a developing story. Follow the liveblog here.
US supreme court expedites Voting Rights Act ruling, allowing Louisiana Republicans to redraw maps for midterms
The US supreme court building
The court gutted section 2 of the Voting Rights Act less than a week ago. Photograph: Gage Skidmore/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock
The US supreme court on Monday allowed a recent ruling that gutted a key part of the Voting Rights Act to take effect ahead of schedule – a procedural move that helps Louisiana Republicans redraw their congressional maps before this year’s midterm elections.
Q&A
What is Trump's 'Project Freedom' in the Strait of Hormuz?
Trump's 'Project Freedom' aims to open a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen increased military activity and threats.
How many ships are currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz?
More than 800 ships and approximately 20,000 crew members are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz due to rising tensions.
What actions did the US military take against Iranian forces?
The US military reported destroying six Iranian boats and intercepting missiles and drones, which Iran has denied.
What was Iran's response to US military actions in the Gulf?
Iran retaliated by attacking the United Arab Emirates with drones and missiles, causing significant damage to the oil port of Fujairah.
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Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson strongly criticised the court for departing from its usual procedure of waiting 32 days to formally issue its judgment to the lower court. “The Court’s decision to buck our usual practice under Rule 45.3 and issue the judgment forthwith is tantamount to an approval of Louisiana’s rush to pause the ongoing election in order to pass a new map,” she wrote.
How will this play into the overall battle for Congress? Red states, including Alabama and Tennessee, are rushing to revise their congressional maps after the original supreme court decision. On Monday, Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor, signed a gerrymandered congressional district map into law that gives Republicans an electoral advantage in four additional races in November’s midterm elections.
How are Democrats fighting back?Eight candidates have been added to their slate of top contenders vying to reclaim a Democratic House majority in November’s midterm elections.
When do voters head to the polls? Ohio voters will today select candidates before November’s midterm elections, including the candidates for Ohio’s Senate special election. Indiana voters also go to the polls today, with seven Republican state senators battling for re-election against candidates backed by Trump.
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In December 1982, Rodney Wilkinson set off four bombs in the Koeberg nuclear power stationin South Africa, in an act of defiance against the apartheid state that made him the most wanted saboteur in South African history. Then he got on his bicycle and rode away, disappearing for more than 40 years. How did he do it?
… or this: The battle to flip Ohio
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Some people in Ohio say they’re tired of timeworn political promises. Photograph: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Ohio lies at the center of Democrats’ hopes of retaking control of Congress in the midterm elections and hobbling Trump’s legislative agenda. They’re hoping that voters, frustrated with rising gas prices and the war in Iran, will vote against the Republicans who supported Trump’s policies.
Climate check: The ‘point of no return’ for New Orleans
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New Orleans may be surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico before the end of this century, a study has concluded, with rising sea levels and the rampant erosion of wetlands threatening to swallow up the city within decades. The study’s authors are recommending that the process of relocating residents out of city begin immediately.
Last Thing: The Met Gala red carpet
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