The U.S. military said it “eliminated” more than a dozen mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday after President Donald Trump warned Iran not to plant mines in the area.
U.S. Central Command posted a video showing strikes targeting multiple Iranian naval vessels, saying that 16 minelayers have been destroyed. The strikes follow Trump’s threat that Iran would face consequences “at a level never seen before” if mines were placed and not removed.
U.S. forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/371unKYiJs
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 10, 2026
“If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before,” Trump said Tuesday. “If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!”
He added that the same technology used in the Caribbean to strike suspected drug boats was being used against “any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the U.S. military was targeting “inactive mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz—wiping them out with ruthless precision.” He added that the United States “will not allow terrorists to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage.”
The strikes occurred after multiple ships were hit by projectiles on Wednesday morning near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply transits. The strikes were reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center.
A bulk carrier was struck by an “unknown projectile” about 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, UKMTO reported. “There is no report of any environmental impact. The crew are reported safe,” the shipping monitor said.
The group also reported that a container vessel was hit by a “suspected but unknown projectile” roughly 25 nautical miles northwest of Ra’s al Khaymah in the United Arab Emirates. In a separate incident, a cargo vessel was struck by a projectile about 11 nautical miles north of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, sparking a fire onboard and prompting the crew to evacuate.
As shipping traffic in the strait has largely stopped, gas prices in the United States have increased, with the national average rising from $2.93 per gallon a month ago to $3.57 on Wednesday.
Trump has floated the idea of deploying U.S. Navy ships to escort tankers and other ships through the strait to ensure safe passage. He said elevated energy prices would be temporary while Iran’s nuclear capabilities were being destroyed.
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