Trump threatens ‘death, fire, and fury’ as US destroys 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels
After reports of mine-laying in the Strait of Hormuz, the US unleashes its ‘most intense’ day of strikes on Iran since the war began
Trump said that the US was using the same technology and missile capabilities deployed against drug traffickers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean to “permanently eliminate” any boat or ship attempting to mine the strait, through which 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply transits.
“If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday.
The US president’s latest threats came after US media reported that Iran had begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Shortly after his initial warning, Trump posted that he was “pleased to report” the US had “hit, and completely destroyed, 10 inactive mine laying boats”, a number the US Central Command (CENTCOM) later updated to 16.
The targeted strikes coincided with a massive expansion of the aerial campaign. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth characterised Tuesday as the “most intense day of strikes” inside Iran since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28 in coordination with Israel.