Britain and France Lead International Military Mission in Strait of Hormuz

JAKARTA - Britain and France will lead an international military mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as soon as "conditions permit," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday (17/4).

The statement came after Starmer attended an international summit hosted by France on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.

"I can confirm that, together with France, the UK will lead a multinational mission to protect freedom of navigation as soon as conditions permit," Starmer told reporters after the summit attended by representatives of 49 countries.

He emphasized that the defense mission was entirely peaceful in order to ensure the safety of commercial shipping and support mine clearance.

More than a dozen countries have expressed their willingness to send military equipment to the Strait of Hormuz after a sustained ceasefire between Iran and the US was agreed, Starmer said.

He invited all parties who are willing to join the mission.

Starmer also announced a meeting of representatives of the defense ministries of the countries participating in the mission, which is scheduled to take place next week in London.

"The strait must be reopened immediately, without tolls and without restrictions," Starmer said.

On April 13, the US Navy began blocking all maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, through which passes about 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

Washington has freed ships other than Iran to cross the Strait of Hormuz, as long as they do not pay a levy to Tehran.

Iranian authorities have not announced the imposition of the levy, but have discussed the plan.

On February 28, the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran, causing damage and civilian casualties.

Iran responded by attacking Israeli territory and a number of US military facilities in the Middle East.

Many countries in the region have even closed part or all of their airspace, amid the risk of missile and drone attacks.