The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has reported the elimination of multiple Iranian vessels, including 16 minelayers, close to the Strait of Hormuz.
The announcement comes amid reports indicating that Iran has begun placing mines in the strategic waterway, which carries around one-fifth of the world’s crude oil supply.
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CNN, quoting two individuals with knowledge of US intelligence assessments, stated that Iran has started to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz, though only a few dozen have been placed in recent days and the scale of activity remains limited.
The claim from CENTCOM follows a statement issued by US President Donald Trump demanding the immediate removal of any mines in the area.
“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. If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Trump later stated that American forces had “hit, and destroyed” 10 inactive minelaying boats and ships, adding that additional action may follow.
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By GlobalDataFollowing the President’s statement, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also stated that “CENTCOM has been eliminating inactive mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz—wiping them out with ruthless precision. We will not allow terrorists to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage.”
Meanwhile, the naval commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has asserted that vessels linked to what he described as “aggressors” would be prevented from passing through the strait, claiming they have “no right” to transit, according to Iran International.
On 10 March 2026, CENTCOM disclosed that its forces had targeted over 5,000 locations in Iran during the first 10 days of a broader military campaign.
Earlier statements from Defence Secretary Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine had fired a torpedo at an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka’s southern coast on 3 March, resulting in its sinking.
Additionally, CENTCOM reported an initial strike had hit the Iranian drone carrier Shahid Bagheri.
