In a dramatic pre-emptive blow to protect global oil shipping, the United States has completely destroyed 10 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow chokepoint through which 20% of the world’s oil flows.

President Donald Trump announced the strikes on Truth Social, stating that U.S. forces “hit, and completely destroyed, 10 inactive mine-laying boats and/or ships.” CENTCOM later confirmed the operation targeted up to 16 minelayers in total, releasing dramatic infrared video showing precision munitions slamming into the vessels — many of them moored or moving slowly at the time of the attack.

Pentagon’s stark warning

At a press briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that the coming hours would bring “the most intense strikes yet” inside Iran — more fighters, more bombers, and more refined intelligence than any previous wave.

He added that U.S. forces have now sunk or disabled over 30 Iranian naval vessels in recent days alone, rendering large parts of the Iranian Navy “combat ineffective.”