Saudi Arabia Blocks US Airspace, Halting Trump's 'Project Freedom' in Hormuz
According to reports citing NBC, Saudi Arabia effectively halted President Trump's military initiative, dubbed 'Project Freedom,' by denying the US military access to Prince Sultan Air Base and its airspace. The sudden announcement of the operation on Truth Social reportedly surprised Riyadh and other Gulf allies, sparking outrage among Saudi leadership. Despite a direct conversation between Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the diplomatic crisis remained unresolved, forcing the US president to pause the operation just 36 hours after its launch to restore vital military access. While the White House claimed regional allies were briefed in advance, diplomats from Oman and sources within Saudi Arabia contradicted this, indicating a lack of prior coordination. Iranian officials mocked the failed initiative as 'Operation Trust me brother.' Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia expressed strong support for Pakistani-mediated diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing conflict with Iran. The incident highlights significant friction in US-Gulf relations and the strategic leverage held by Riyadh over American military operations in the region.
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