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| /Yonhap |
CNN reported on March 10, citing U.S. intelligence officials, that Iran began laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz over the past several days.
U.S. assessments put the number at several dozen so far, though officials warn the total could expand into the hundreds depending on developments. CBS reported that Iran has used small boats capable of carrying two to three mines each to deploy the devices. Analysts estimate Iran’s mine stockpile at roughly 2,000 to 6,000.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf and the open ocean, and about 20% of the world’s oil shipments transit the passage. The emplacement of mines there could effectively close the strait.
The U.S. moved quickly to counter the mine threat. U.S. Central Command said it struck 16 Iranian vessels used in mine-laying operations near the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump also warned of a hard response, posting on Truth Social that any mines laid in the strait must be removed immediately or Iran will face military consequences unprecedented in recent memory.
At the same time, the U.S. has stepped up air strikes inside Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters at a Pentagon briefing near Washington that the day would again be among the most intense of the campaign and that high-intensity strikes on targets inside Iran will continue.
Iran has continued retaliatory attacks. The Associated Press reported Iran struck at Israel and Gulf states, and Kuwait’s National Guard shot down six drones. Bloomberg reported that Saudi Arabia also intercepted missiles and drones.
With the conflict approaching two weeks, the international community has begun to respond. The French presidency said G7 leaders will hold a videoconference on March 11 to discuss the war’s economic impact and coordinate responses in energy markets. The U.N. Security Council also plans to vote that day on a resolution calling for Iran to stop attacks on Arab countries.
The prolonged fighting has driven a rising human toll. The U.S. Department of Defense said that since the fighting began on the 28th of last month, 140 U.S. service members have been wounded and seven have been killed; eight of the wounded are reported to be seriously injured. Reported deaths include at least 1,230 in Iran, 486 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel. In the United Arab Emirates, a drone attack killed two people, and in Bahrain one person was killed and eight were injured.
