U.S. Forces Attack Iranian Mine-Laying Ships Near the Strait of Hormuz

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: New York Times

U.S. Forces Attack Iranian Mine-Laying Ships Near the Strait of Hormuz

A video posted by the U.S. Central Command showed munitions striking nine vessels, most of which were moored at the time. Whether any mines have been laid in Gulf waters was unclear.



Boats docked in a fishing area in the Strait of Hormuz in Musandam, Oman, earlier this month. Amr Alfiky/Reuters

By John Ismay and Julian E. Barnes
Reporting from Washington

March 10, 2026
Updated 9:33 p.m. ET

In a social media post, the United States Central Command said Tuesday evening that it had attacked 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. ... A video accompanying the post showed munitions hitting nine vessels, most of which were moored at the time of the attack.

Whether any Iranian mines have been deployed in the water since the current war began on Feb. 28 is unclear. The United States believed that Iran was preparing to mine the strait but had not begun the operation, according to an American official. Still, the preparatory efforts spooked the Trump administration, prompting the White House order to the military to strike Iran’s mine-laying equipment.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to the northern Arabian Sea. Iran’s southern coastline runs along the strait, and military and civilian vessels transiting through are routinely questioned by Iranian authorities via maritime radio communications when entering and exiting the gulf.

{snip}

Peter Eavis contributed reporting.

John Ismay is a reporter covering the Pentagon for The Times. He served as an explosive ordnance disposal officer in the U.S. Navy.

Julian E. Barnes covers the U.S. intelligence agencies and international security matters for The Times. He has written about security issues for more than two decades.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/10/world/middleeast/iran-mines-strait-of-hormuz.html

---

https://www.nytimes.com/by/john-ismay
https://www.nytimes.com/by/julian-e-barnes