Washington: The United States military said it destroyed 16 Iranian ships near the Strait of Hormuz after accusing them of laying naval mines in the strategic waterway. The action came after US President Donald Trump warned Iran to remove the mines immediately or face serious military consequences.
According to the US Central Command, the operation took place on March 10 when American forces detected Iranian ships placing mines in the narrow strait that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. The command said US aircraft and naval forces carried out strikes on the ships involved in the operation.
Video footage released by the US Central Command on its social media platform showed several ships being targeted and destroyed. The military said the vessels were part of an Iranian effort to plant sea mines that could threaten commercial ships passing through the area.
The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the most important shipping routes in the world. Nearly one fifth of global oil supplies pass through this narrow channel every day. Any disruption in this route could affect global energy markets and increase oil prices.
President Trump had earlier issued repeated warnings to Tehran, demanding that all sea mines placed in the strait be removed without delay. He said that failure to do so would bring strong military action from the United States. US officials said the strikes were carried out after Iran ignored those warnings.
Speaking to Republican members at a golf club event in Miami earlier, Trump said the war in the region could end very quickly. However he added that the duration of the conflict would depend on Iran's actions.
Iranian authorities have responded with strong statements. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the future of the conflict is now in Iran's hands and warned that further attacks could lead to stronger retaliation. Iranian leaders have also threatened to block oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz if the attacks on their country continue.
The situation in the Gulf region remains tense as military operations continue. Security concerns have already forced some commercial vessels to reconsider their routes through the strait. Analysts say continued instability in the area could have serious economic effects on global oil trade and shipping.