Donald Trump has issued a ‘shoot to kill’ order against Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social, the US President said he had instructed the US Navy to target any boat that is putting mines in the blockaded waterway.
He also announced that American minesweepers were clearing the Strait, which has been effectively shut off to maritime traffic since the start of the US and Israeli war with Iran in February.
‘I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (their naval ships are all, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz,’ he wrote.
‘There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our ‘mine sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now.’
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The order came hours after the US military had seized another tanker associated with smuggling Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean.
On Wednesday, Iran attacked three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, capturing two of them.
Trump’s harsh rhetoric against ships in the Strait marks a change in attitude after the firing of his Navy Chief this week.
US Navy Secretary John Phelan is the latest high-ranking military leader to leave the administration in recent months.
On Wednesday, the Pentagon announced that US Navy Secretary John Phelan is departing from the Trump administration.
According to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, this departure will take effect ‘immediately’. It’s believed to be linked to the ongoing blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
This a a breaking news story and is being updated.
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