U.S. strikes 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. military said it struck 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz after concluding Iran was preparing, but had not begun, to mine the waterway. Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said U.S. forces also targeted mine storage facilities.

The expanding war in the Middle East has killed more than 1,800 people, mostly in Iran, and disrupted global energy markets. Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries around a fifth of the world’s oil, is largely paused over fears of drone or missile strikes, raising prices for consumers across regions.

Mojtaba Khamenei, proclaimed Iran’s supreme leader after his father’s death, has not appeared in public or issued statements since his ascension. Iranian officials said he was injured on the opening day of U.S.-Israeli strikes and is sheltering at a highly secure location; state media has referred to him as the wounded war veteran.

Iran, Strait of Hormuz

u.s. strikes, iran, mine laying, hormuz strait, dan caine, joint chiefs, mine storage, tanker traffic, oil prices, mojtaba khamenei