Saudi Arabia, Kuwait restore US military access for Hormuz operation: WSJ

Washington is preparing to restart naval mission to escort commercial ships through the strategic waterway

Photo: Reuters

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have restored US military access to their bases and airspace after earlier restrictions disrupted Washington’s effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The American daily said the move clears a major obstacle for President Donald Trump’s planned operation to guide commercial vessels through the vital waterway with US naval and air support.

The Trump administration is now looking to relaunch the mission after pausing it roughly 36 hours after it began earlier this week, it added.

Pentagon officials told the newspaper the operation could resume as early as this week, though no final timeline has yet been confirmed.

The US-led mission relied heavily on a large fleet of military aircraft to shield commercial ships from potential Iranian missile and drone attacks, making Saudi and Kuwaiti airspace and military facilities crucial to the operation.

The Wall Street Journal said the restrictions imposed by Riyadh and Kuwait after the operation began triggered one of the biggest disputes in recent years between Saudi Arabia and the US over military cooperation.

The disagreement also led to a series of high-level phone calls between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while raising fears of strain in the broader security arrangement between Washington and Riyadh.