US destroys 16 Iran ships deployed to lay mines in Strait of Hormuz | Video

By Admin

11 Mar, 2026

Rising Tensions in the Gulf

The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran has intensified as the US military confirmed that it destroyed 16 Iranian vessels suspected of laying naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz. The action marks a significant escalation in the already volatile situation in the Middle East.

According to the US military, the vessels were operating near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most crucial energy routes. Nearly 20 percent of global oil shipments pass through this narrow waterway, making it a strategic chokepoint for global energy supply.

The operation came amid growing concerns that Iran was attempting to disrupt international oil exports by deploying naval mines in the region.

US Military Action Against Iranian Minelayers

The United States announced on Wednesday that it had destroyed more than a dozen Iranian mine-laying ships on Tuesday during an operation in the Gulf.

Officials stated that 16 vessels involved in suspected mine-laying activities were taken out near the Strait of Hormuz. The US military also released unclassified video footage showing several of the targeted vessels, providing visual confirmation of the operation.

However, US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that there were no confirmed reports that Iran had successfully planted mines in the waterway.

Trump had earlier warned Tehran that the United States would strike Iran “at a level never seen before” if mines were discovered in the critical shipping channel.

Strategic Importance of the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is considered the world’s most important energy chokepoint.

• Around one-fifth of global crude oil exports pass through the strait.
  
  

• The route connects oil-producing countries in the Middle East to international markets.
  
  

• Any disruption can immediately affect global oil prices and energy supplies.
  
  

Reports suggested that Iran had begun deploying mines in the waterway, raising fears that global oil shipments could be severely disrupted.

CNN reported that the mine-laying activity appeared to be part of Iran’s strategy to pressure the United States and its allies by threatening global energy supplies.

War Enters 11th Day

As the conflict entered its 11th day, rhetoric from both sides hardened.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the most intense strikes of the conflict may still lie ahead. The Pentagon also revealed that several US troops have been injured during the conflict, highlighting the growing toll of the escalating confrontation.

Meanwhile, Iranian leaders ruled out negotiations and issued new warnings against the United States. Tehran also launched fresh attacks targeting Israel and US military bases across the region.

Iran’s Strategy: Targeting Energy Infrastructure

Analysts say Iran appears to be targeting energy infrastructure across the region as part of its broader strategy.

Iran has repeatedly struck oil and gas facilities in an attempt to trigger global economic pressure on the United States and Israel. By threatening oil exports and key supply routes, Tehran may be hoping to force its adversaries to halt military operations.

Iranian officials have also vowed that they would not allow “even a single liter” of oil to reach their enemies if the conflict continues.

Impact on Global Markets

Despite rising geopolitical tensions, the US stock market remained relatively stable as investors waited for signs of how the conflict might unfold.

Oil prices also remained below the peaks reached earlier in the week, although the possibility of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continues to keep energy markets on edge.

Earlier fears of a prolonged disruption in oil and natural gas supplies had briefly rattled global financial markets.

Civilians Feel the Impact in Tehran

The war is also having a severe impact on civilians inside Iran.

Residents in Tehran reported some of the heaviest airstrikes since the conflict began. One woman said she witnessed a residential building being hit during an attack.

Several residents who spoke to the Associated Press requested anonymity due to fears of reprisals.

Reports indicate that tens of thousands of people in Iran have fled to the countryside seeking safety from the ongoing strikes.

Escalation Beyond Iran

The conflict has also spread to other parts of the Middle East.

In southern Lebanon, multiple Israeli airstrikes killed seven people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Among the victims was a Red Cross member who died from injuries sustained after an Israeli strike targeted a rescue team helping victims of an earlier attack.

Earlier Israeli strikes on Tuesday also killed four people, including a paramedic affiliated with the Hezbollah-linked Islamic Health Authority who was treating wounded civilians.

Growing Global Concern

The destruction of Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz underscores the serious risk of a wider regional conflict.

With global energy supplies potentially at stake and military tensions escalating, the situation remains highly volatile. Any disruption in the vital shipping route could have far-reaching consequences for global oil markets and international trade.

As both sides continue to escalate their rhetoric and military actions, the world is closely watching how the conflict between the United States and Iran unfolds in the coming days.