US Destroys 16 Iranian Mine layer ships preparing to deploy to Hormuz

US Destroys 16 Iranian Mine layer vessels preparing to deploy to Straits of Hormuz

The United States says it has destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels as tensions escalate in the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply normally flows.

The strikes were confirmed as the war between Iran, Israel and the United States entered its 11th day, with fighting spreading across the Middle East.

According to the United States Department of Defense, the vessels were believed to be preparing to deploy naval mines that could shut down the vital shipping lane.

But Donald Trump said on social media there was still no confirmed evidence that mines had actually been placed in the strait.

Trump nonetheless warned Tehran that the United States would respond with force “at a level never seen before” if shipping routes were sabotaged.

Iran Threatens To Halt Gulf Oil

Iranian leaders responded with defiance.

The powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared that it would not allow “even a single liter of oil” to be exported from the region to countries supporting Israel or the United States.

Energy markets have already been rattled by the threat.

Major producers are rerouting tankers away from the strait as a precaution, according to Saudi Aramco chief executive Amin Nasser.

The Saudi oil giant is now pushing shipments through its east-west pipeline to the Red Sea port of Yanbu to avoid the chokepoint.

“If this takes a long time, that will have serious impact on the global economy,” Nasser warned.

War Spreads Across The Region

The wider conflict continues to intensify.

In Lebanon, Israeli strikes killed several people overnight, including a rescue worker, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Missiles and drones have also targeted Gulf states.

Air defenses in Saudi Arabia intercepted missiles headed toward Prince Sultan Air Base, a major US-Saudi military installation.

Meanwhile the United Arab Emirates said Iranian attacks had killed six people and injured more than 120.

Sirens also sounded in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, following warnings of another incoming strike.

Heavy Casualties Mount

The human toll of the conflict continues to rise.

According to US military officials, around 140 American troops have been wounded since fighting began, though most injuries were minor.

At least seven US service members have been killed.

Casualties inside Iran are far higher, with local reports suggesting more than 1,200 people have died during the intense air campaign targeting military bases, missile sites and nuclear facilities.

Global Evacuations Begin

As the conflict widens, thousands of foreign nationals are leaving the region.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says more than 667,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon alone, while tens of thousands have fled into Syria.

Western governments are also evacuating citizens from Gulf states as airlines suspend routes and military tensions continue to rise.

Despite mounting pressure, Iranian leaders insist they are not seeking a ceasefire.

Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Iran would continue fighting until its enemies “learn a lesson” for attacking the country.

With oil routes under threat and missile strikes spreading across the region, the conflict now risks tipping from a regional war into a global economic crisis.

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