The mission, beginning Monday, “will support merchant vessels seeking to freely transit through the essential international trade corridor,” CENTCOM said in a statement Sunday evening.

“Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander.

US military support for the effort will include guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, and 15,000 service members, the statement said.

A US official told CNN that “Project Freedom” is not an escort mission.