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