Trump Orders Navy to 'Shoot and Kill' Boats Mining Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to "shoot and kill" any boat laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The order targets Iranian vessels putting explosives in the crucial waterway between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
President Donald Trump issued a direct military order Thursday telling the U.S. Navy to "shoot and kill" any boat placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The president said American forces have "total control" of the strategic waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow channel between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. About 20% of global oil production flows through this 21-mile-wide passage. Iranian boats have been laying underwater explosives that could damage or sink commercial ships.
Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on February 28, with large-scale U.S.-Israeli strikes. The conflict has escalated rapidly since then. Iranian forces seized the USS Tripoli and captured American Marines, according to military reports.
The Pentagon has tripled mine-clearing efforts in the strait. Navy ships are now patrolling the area with orders to fire on any vessel caught placing explosives. The aggressive rules of engagement mark a sharp increase in military action.
The Strait of Hormuz carries about one-fifth of the world's oil. If ships can't pass safely, gas prices could spike globally. This military order shows how close the U.S. and Iran are to full war.
Watch for Iranian response to the shoot-to-kill order and oil price changes as shipping companies assess safety risks.
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