U.S. military reports that its helicopters sank six small Iranian boats that were targeting civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as American forces push forward with the newly launched Project Freedom operation.Adm. Brad Co oper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said U.S. forces have also opened a passage through the strait and stopped multiple Iranian attacks on ships under their protection. He said Iran launched cruise missiles, drones and additional small boats, and that each and every one of those threats was defeated.The developments come as President Donald Trumps Project Freedom officially began on Monday, with U.S. forces working to help ships move through the strait amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.Two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels successfully transited the strait on Monday, according to U.S. Central Command.When announcing the initiative, Trump said the U.S. would help ships from nations not involved in the U.S.-Iran conflict move freely through the Strait of Hormuz."We will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. "Again, these are Ships from areas of the World that are not in any way involved with that which is currently taking place in the Middle East."Trump described the effort as a "humanitarian gesture," suggesting some crews may be running low on food.RELATED STORY | A cargo ship near Strait of Hormuz says it's attacked as Iran makes new peace proposalU.S. Central Command said military support for the initiative includes guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms and about 15,000 service members.It remains unclear how the initiative may impact energy markets, which are already facing challenges ranging from a jet fuel shortage in Europe to high gas prices in the U.S. The developments also raise questions about ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.Over the weekend, Trump said he is reviewing a new Iranian proposal to end the war, though the White House has not yet issued an official response."I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can't imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years," Trump said in a statement. ...read more read less