WASHINGTON, United States — US President Donald Trump abruptly paused a U.S. military operation aimed at protecting commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after Saudi Arabia reportedly blocked American access to critical airspace and military facilities needed for the mission.
Trump’s announcement of the operation — dubbed “Project Freedom” — caught key Gulf allies off guard, particularly Saudi Arabia, which reacted by suspending U.S. military use of Prince Sultan Airbase and restricting overflight access for aircraft supporting the operation.
The move forced the White House to halt the operation less than 36 hours after it began, exposing tensions between Washington and some of its closest Middle Eastern allies amid an escalating regional conflict involving Iran.
Project Freedom was announced by US President Trump on social media over the weekend as a mission designed to secure maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic global shipping corridor that Iran had threatened and partially disrupted during the ongoing conflict.
U.S. officials said the operation involved deploying military surveillance assets, naval escorts, and aircraft to protect commercial and U.S.-flagged vessels transiting the Gulf.
Saudi Arabia’s decision reportedly followed frustration over not being adequately consulted before the operation was publicly unveiled.
The officials said Riyadh informed Washington that U.S. military aircraft would not be allowed to fly from Prince Sultan Air Base, southeast of Riyadh, or to transit Saudi airspace in support of the mission.
A subsequent call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman failed to resolve the dispute, according to the officials immediately.
Saudi Arabia later downplayed suggestions of a diplomatic fallout. A Saudi source said that Trump and the crown prince had remained in close communication and that Riyadh supported ongoing diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan to broker a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.
“The problem with that premise is that things are happening quickly in real time,” the Saudi source said when asked whether Riyadh had been blindsided by the operation.
The White House denied claims that Gulf allies were excluded from consultations, with one administration official insisting regional partners had been informed beforehand.
However, officials from several Gulf states indicated coordination came after Trump’s public announcement rather than before it. A Middle Eastern diplomat said that Oman was only consulted after the operation had already been declared.
“The U.S. made an announcement and then coordinated with us,” the diplomat said.
The operational setback highlights the extent to which American military operations in the Gulf depend heavily on regional cooperation through what the Pentagon calls “ABO” — access, basing, and overflight arrangements.
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, and Oman provide critical airspace, logistics, and operational support for U.S. military activities across the Middle East. Without Saudi overflight permissions, analysts say sustaining aerial protection for commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz becomes significantly more difficult.
Despite the suspension of Project Freedom, the United States continues to maintain a major military presence in the region. The Pentagon currently has two carrier strike groups deployed in and around the Gulf alongside fighter aircraft, air defense systems, refueling tankers, and expanded logistics support.
The operation itself was described by Pentagon officials as separate from the broader U.S. bombing campaign against Iran known as “Epic Fury,” which began on February 28.
At the same time, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict appear to be intensifying. Iran confirmed it was reviewing a new peace proposal delivered through Pakistani mediation, while senior U.S. officials signaled optimism that negotiations could lead to a ceasefire.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said discussions over the past 24 hours had been productive.
“They want to make a deal,” Trump said, while warning that military action could resume if negotiations collapse.
“I think it’s got a very good chance of ending, and if it doesn’t end, we have to go back to bombing the hell out of them,” he told PBS.
The conflict is increasingly carrying political implications for Trump ahead of the November midterm elections, with Republicans seeking to retain narrow congressional majorities amid concerns over another prolonged Middle East confrontation.
Meanwhile, Wang Yi called for an immediate ceasefire during talks with Iranian officials on Wednesday, warning that renewed escalation would destabilize global trade and energy markets.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, handling a significant share of global oil shipments. Any prolonged disruption risks sending energy prices higher and intensifying economic uncertainty worldwide.
