U.S. strikes Iran's mine-laying ships near Strait of Hormuz: central command

Alsharq Tribune-Ahmed Essam 

U.S. Central Command said Tuesday that it struck 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.

"U.S. forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz," the command said in a post on X. A video included in the post showed munitions hit nine of the vessels, most of which appeared to be moored at the time of the attack.

It was not immediately clear whether Iran had deployed naval mines in the water since the United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.

Iran will use missiles and submarines to stop the movement of the fleet of the United States and its allies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri said Tuesday in a post on social media platform X.

The post dismissed previous U.S. claims that its navy escorted oil tankers passing through the crucial waterway.

Recent disruptions to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz have raised concerns about potential ripple effects on energy markets, maritime transport and global supply chains, the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said on Tuesday.

In an analysis report, UNCTAD said military escalation in the region has disrupted shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage that carries about one-quarter of global seaborne oil trade, along with significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilizers.