Chicago – March 10, 2026
The United States military has eliminated 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions amid ongoing regional conflict. U.S. Central Command confirmed the strikes on March 10, 2026, stating that American forces targeted multiple Iranian naval assets to prevent threats to the vital shipping lane.
President Donald Trump warned Iran on Truth Social to immediately remove any mines from the strait, threatening unprecedented military consequences if not complied with.
Shortly after, he announced the destruction of 10 inactive mine-laying boats, with further actions to follow, later updated to a total of 16 by CENTCOM. The operation aims to secure the waterway, through which about 20% of global oil passes, now stalled due to fears of Iranian mines, drones, and missiles.
Pentagon officials, including Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine, described the strikes as part of aggressive targeting of IRGC mine-laying vessels and storage sites along Iran’s coast.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint less than 21 miles wide at points, has seen up to 250 ships backed up, including 150 oil tankers. U.S. forces are preparing potential mine-clearing with advanced underwater vehicles, drawing parallels to past encounters like the 1988 USS Samuel B. Roberts incident.
