Day 470
May 4, 2026
5 incidents
- War Crime / Crime Against Humanity Foreign Policy & War
US launches 'Project Freedom'; Iran attacks UAE
US launches Operation 'Project Freedom' to assert freedom of navigation for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian forces simultaneously attack UAE targets in a significant regional escalation. Oil markets spike on renewed uncertainty.
From: U.S. Strikes on Iranian Port Cities During Active Ceasefire (May 2026)
- War Crime / Crime Against Humanity Military Overreach
Operation Project Freedom: Unilateral Hormuz Convoy Forced Standdown After Saudi Airspace Denial (May 2026)
On May 4, 2026, the Trump administration launched 'Operation Project Freedom' — a US Navy operation to forcibly escort merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz over Iranian objections, during an active ceasefire. Iran attacked three US destroyers. Saudi Arabia then denied the US use of Prince Sultan Airbase and Saudi airspace, making the operation militarily non-viable. Trump announced a 'pause for negotiations' within 48 hours; the New York Times reported the real reason was the Saudi airspace denial. Congress was not notified. The operation was conducted without authorization and in direct violation of the April 7 ceasefire agreement.
- War Crime / Crime Against Humanity Foreign Policy & War
US launches 'Project Freedom'; Iran attacks UAE
The US launched 'Project Freedom' — a freedom of navigation operation for commercial vessels transiting the Strait. On the same day, Iranian forces attacked UAE targets, significantly expanding the regional footprint of the conflict. The blockade has now been in effect for 21 days.
- War Crime / Crime Against Humanity Foreign Policy & War
US launches 'Project Freedom'; Iran attacks UAE
The US launched Operation 'Project Freedom' to assert freedom of navigation for commercial vessels through the strait. On the same day, Iranian forces attacked targets in the UAE — a significant regional escalation beyond the Iran-US bilateral conflict. Oil markets spike on renewed regional uncertainty.
From: Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Global Energy and Food Security Catastrophe
- Serious Rights Violation Extrajudicial Killing
AFRICOM strikes ISIS-Somalia in Golis Mountains vicinity
AFRICOM conducts an airstrike targeting ISIS-Somalia approximately 75 km southeast of Bossaso in the Golis Mountains region. No casualty figures provided by AFRICOM. Independent monitoring has not yet verified the strike's civilian impact.
From: Massive Escalation of US Airstrikes in Somalia with Zero Civilian Accountability