The United States has released footage of strikes on Iran's mining fleet, including 16 warships destroyed near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to the BBC.
“US forces eliminated several Iranian military vessels on March 10, including 16 mining vessels near the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM (US Central Command, the structure responsible for operations in the Middle East) said in a post on X.
The command later added that “hundreds of air assets continue to exert overwhelming combat power against the Iranian regime in Operation Epic Fury.”
Images released by CENTCOM show craft of various sizes exploding after being hit by projectiles.
General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the Pentagon that destroying Iran's navy is one of three key objectives of the offensive.
The action comes after container ships have been attacked in the region, prompting President Donald Trump to warn that he will destroy any ship that tries to mine the canal.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical strategic point, through which more than 20 million barrels of oil transit daily, approximately 20% of global consumption.
The White House leader confirmed the success of the operation on the Truth Social platform on Tuesday: “We hit and completely destroyed 10 mining ships, and more will follow.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that US forces acted under direct orders to unblock the waterway. “We will not allow terrorists to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage,” he added, adding that Iran had been officially warned.
