Despite U.S. efforts to force the strait open, traffic in the waterway remains just a fraction of what it used to be prior to the war.

DOD expected "some churn at the beginning" of "Project Freedom," Defense Sec. Hegseth said, referring to an effort to move ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Defense Secretary emphasizes Project Freedom's temporary, defensive mission to protect commercial shipping from Iranian threats.

Despite U.S. efforts to force the strait open, traffic in the waterway remains just a fraction of what it used to be prior to the war.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the U.S. mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was a temporary one.

President Donald Trump announced the operation Sunday, saying the U.S. will "guide" ships stuck due to the Iran war through the Strait of Hormuz.