Fox News was brought to a sudden halt when Donald Trump threatened to “blow Iran off the face of the earth” as he initiated Project Freedom as a “defensive” operation. The chilling alert came as the US president made an attempt to unblock the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait and calm international markets.
Broadcaster Jesse Watters claimed the US army had already taken out Iran’s “mosquito fleet”. Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said: “We have an enormous amount of capability and firepower concentrated in and around the Strait, including 864 Apache and MH60 Seahawk helicopters used just this morning to eliminate six Iranian small boats threatening commercial shipping.”
The news anchor said more than 15,000 American service members are supporting Project Freedom. The TV segment then cut to show photos of US guided missile destroyers and helicopters landing on an aircraft carrier as Watters continued: “They are also pulling blockade duty and they are packed to the brim. With over 100 land and sea aircrafts on deck including fleets of warthogs, F15s, F18s, F35s and Growlers.”
Viewers, however, reacted differently, as one said: “You post this like it’s an awesome flex? This is awful, there are civilians there, come on. What the f*** is going on?”
Another wrote: “So now we are unblocking the Strait that we already control? When Americans going to wake up?”
Watters quoted a source and said: “We are closer to major combat operations than we were 24 hours ago.”
Trump previously told Fox News: “We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before… We have the best equipment.”
At an unrelated event at the Oval Office, Trump was asked what Iran would have to do to constitute a breach of the ceasefire.
“You’ll find out, because I’ll let you know,” he told reporters. “They know what to do, and they know what not to do, more importantly. They respect us. They didn’t use to respect us, but they respect us more than we’ve ever been respected.”
