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US Navy Destroys 16 Iranian Mine-Laying Boats Near World’s Most Critical Oil Chokepoint
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US military forces destroyed 16 Iranian minelaying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on March 10, targeting ships believed to be preparing to deploy naval mines along one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes.
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According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes were carried out after Iranian naval units were detected operating near the strategic waterway. The command said the operation targeted multiple vessels belonging to the Iranian navy.
“On March 10, US forces destroyed multiple vessels of Iran’s navy, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said in a statement shared on social media.
U.S. forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/371unKYiJs
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 10, 2026
US officials said the operation also struck several additional Iranian naval vessels during the same series of precision strikes.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth commented on the operation in a post on X, writing: “16 minelayers. Destroyed. Strait secured. Mines not deployed. Navy shrinking. Iran losing.”
The vessels were reportedly small craft capable of carrying two to three naval mines each. Such boats are commonly used in Iran’s naval doctrine for rapid mine deployment in narrow maritime passages.
The incident followed reports that Iran may have begun preparations to mine the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and is one of the most important global shipping routes for energy supplies.
Analysts estimate Iran’s naval mine stockpile ranges between roughly 2,000 and 6,000 mines of Iranian, Chinese, and Russian origin, though the exact number is not publicly confirmed.
The Strait of Hormuz handles around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. According to reporting cited by Ukrinform, tanker traffic through the corridor has sharply declined amid the escalating military confrontation between the US, Israel, and Iran.
US President Donald Trump warned Tehran of further consequences if the strait is mined or shipping is disrupted. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said: “If Iran installed any mines in the Strait of Hormuz… we demand they remove them immediately!”
The naval strikes come days after another major escalation at sea. According to CNN on March 4, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a US submarine sank the Iranian warship Soleimani with a torpedo in international waters. The incident marked the first time the United States has destroyed an enemy vessel with a torpedo since World War II.
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