The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced this Tuesday that US forces destroyed 16 Iranian minesweepers near the Strait of Hormuz, in a military operation that takes place amid reports that Tehran is trying to deploy naval explosives in one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
According to CENTCOM itself in a post on social media, the action was directed against several vessels linked to Iranian naval operations in the area.
“U.S. forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels on March 10, including 16 mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz”, the U.S. military command indicated.
The organization accompanied its statement with a video showing attacks against several vessels at sea, followed by explosions that destroy the ships. The images show projectiles hitting the targets and columns of smoke rising from the affected vessels.
The
Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean and is one of the most sensitive points in the global energy system. Approximately one-fifth of the oil consumed on the planet circulates daily through that narrow waterway, used by major crude oil producers in the region to export their resources to the
international markets.
The possibility of mines being placed in the area raises concerns about the impact it could have on navigation safety and global energy supply. Even limited disruptions to traffic in that corridor can cause immediate effects on oil prices and international supply chains.
Hours before the CENTCOM announcement, the President of the United States,
Donald Trump, had reported that the US military had destroyed several vessels related to these activities. In a message spread on social media, the president assured that US forces had attacked and destroyed
ten ships used to lay mines.
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I am pleased to report that, in the last few hours, we have attacked and completely destroyed ten inactive mine-laying ships or vessels. And there will be more!”, wrote Trump.
Trump also issued a warning to Iran about the consequences of deploying naval mines on that strategic route.
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If for any reason mines were placed and not immediately removed, the military consequences for Iran will be of an unprecedented level,” stated the U.S. president.
In the same message, the leader added that the removal of any explosive device that may have been placed would be interpreted as a positive gesture.
“If, on the other hand, they remove what they may have placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction,” he pointed out.
Furthermore, Trump indicated that US forces are prepared to act against any vessel involved in mining operations in the strait. According to his explanation, the ships involved would be attacked with the same type of missiles used by the United States to intercept drug trafficking vessels in other regions.
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They will be treated expeditiously and violently. CAUTION!“, warned the president.
The announcement regarding the destruction of the minesweepers comes in a context of regional war that has significantly heightened tensions in the Middle East over the past few weeks. Since the beginning of hostilities, Iran has launched attacks against Israel and against U.S. interests in several countries in the region.
In parallel, maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has been considerably reduced due to the increased risks to navigation, while governments and shipping companies closely monitor the evolution of the situation in one of the most strategic points of global trade.
