US vows to keep Hormuz open by striking Iran’s mine-laying fleets
US defense officials say the Strait of Hormuz will not remain contested, with military leaders announcing ongoing strikes against Iran’s mine-laying capabilities to protect commercial shipping. President Trump claimed 28 mine-laying vessels were struck this week, and Pentagon figures emphasize a plan for every option to keep the chokepoint open. There is no clear evidence of newly laid mines, while Centcom has appointed an external officer to probe a separate bombing of an Iranian girls’ school, underscoring the broader, escalating US-Iran tensions around the Gulf.