Donald Trump orders US Navy to “shoot and kill” any small boats suspected of laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, while directing a major escalation of mine-clearing operations already underway in the strategic waterway

Trump orders expanded US Navy action in Strait of Hormuz amid reported mine threats

US President Donald Trump has issued a sweeping directive ordering the United States Navy to take immediate and escalated action in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, amid claims of maritime threats involving naval mines.

In a statement posted on social media, Trump said he had authorised US naval forces to use lethal force against any small boats suspected of placing mines in the waterway. He also ordered that ongoing mine-clearing operations in the Strait be significantly intensified.

“There is to be no hesitation,” Trump wrote, emphasising a hardline approach to any perceived threat to commercial and military navigation in the region.

The President further claimed that hostile naval assets had already been neutralised, stating that “their naval ships are ALL… at the bottom of the sea,” though no independent confirmation of such events was provided.

Alongside the directive on enforcement, Trump said US mine-sweeping operations currently underway in the Strait of Hormuz should be expanded to “a tripled up level,” signalling a substantial increase in maritime security activity in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive chokepoints.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, is one of the most important oil transit routes globally. Any disruption in the area can have significant implications for global energy markets and international shipping.

As of now, there has been no official response from the Pentagon or confirmation of operational details regarding the expanded naval activities. The situation remains fluid, with heightened attention on potential escalation in the region.

The announcement is likely to intensify diplomatic scrutiny, given the already volatile nature of maritime security in the Gulf and longstanding tensions involving regional and global powers operating in the area.