Two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz from the Arabian Sea on Monday, with the assistance of the U.N. Navy. These were the first two vessels to transite the strait since the U.,S. military launched "Project Freedom" to guide ships through. A U..S. official stated that the vessels were not escorted but sailed through a designated defensive zone. The rules of engagement for U.s. forces in the region have been changed and they are authorized to strike immediate threats against ships that cross the Straitit, like IRGC fast boats or Iranian missile positions. The Iranian armed forces warned that such actions would jeopardise the security of vessels in the Gulf.