The U.S. military says it destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying boats near the Strait of Hormuz as tensions escalate over potential threats to the critical global oil shipping route.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday that U.S. forces destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying boats near the Strait of Hormuz amid concerns Tehran could deploy naval mines in the vital shipping corridor. The announcement was accompanied by a 34-second video showing some of the strikes.
Earlier, Donald Trump cited a smaller figure in a post on Truth Social. “I am pleased to report that within the last few hours, we have hit, and completely destroyed, 10 inactive mine laying boats and/or ships, with more to follow!” Trump wrote.
Trump warned Iran would face severe consequences if it attempted to mine the waterway. “Additionally, we are using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait. They will be dealt with quickly and violently.” The waterway carries about 20% of global oil supplies daily.
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