WASHINGTON, — May 8, 2026 : Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted restrictions on U.S. military use of their bases and airspace, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The decision removes a key obstacle and clears the way for the possible restart of the U.S. naval operation known as “Project Freedom” as early as this week.
Pentagon officials have stated that operations under Project Freedom could resume as early as this week. The Trump administration is now considering restarting the naval mission to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Access for U.S. basing and overflight operations in Saudi Arabia was restored following a second phone call between President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Project Freedom is a U.S.-led mission to escort and guide merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid disruptions to commercial shipping in the region. The operation was launched earlier in May 2026 and involved U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers, aircraft, and multi-domain unmanned platforms. It was paused after only a short period when Saudi Arabia and Kuwait imposed restrictions on the use of their bases and airspace.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. The mission relies heavily on regional basing and overflight permissions to provide air and naval support for commercial shipping.
The restrictions had been put in place shortly after the initial launch of the operation. Their removal follows high-level discussions between the United States and the Gulf states.
No official confirmation of the exact restart date or operational details has been released by the Pentagon or the White House at this time. Further information on the scope and timeline of any resumed operations is expected in the coming days.
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