US Central Command announced it had destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying ships near the Strait of Hormuz. The action came after President Donald Trump warned of "unprecedented" military consequences if Iran continued laying mines in strategic waters.

Trump stated: "If for any reason mines are being placed and not immediately removed, the military consequences for Iran will be at an unprecedented level." According to sources, Iran had positioned approximately ten mines in strategic waters, and experts warn that Iran has the capacity for hundreds more mines.

In addition to the minelayers, three commercial tankers were struck by projectiles near the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz, only 55 kilometers wide, is a critical global energy supply corridor through which approximately 20 percent of global oil consumption passes. The situation in the Persian Gulf remains critical, with only a few ship transits daily compared to the usual 100.