International
oi-Ashish Rana
The United States military said it destroyed 16 Iranian vessels believed to be capable of laying naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz, intensifying tensions in the region as the war between Washington and Tehran entered its 11th day. The development comes amid rising fears about the safety of one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.
The Pentagon released unclassified footage showing some of the vessels it said were taken out in the operation on Tuesday. The strait carries nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply, making any disruption a major concern for global energy markets.
US Destroys Iranian Minelayers Near Strategic Waterway
According to the US military, the vessels were capable of deploying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials said the operation was carried out amid concerns that Iran could attempt to disrupt international oil shipments through the narrow waterway.
Despite the military’s claims, US President Donald Trump said there were no confirmed reports that Iran had actually planted mines in the strait. Earlier, Trump warned that the United States would strike Iran “at a level never seen before” if it did not immediately remove any mines placed in the channel.
As tensions rose, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged that the next round of American military action would be the most intense yet.
Iran Threatens to Halt Regional Oil Exports
Iran’s leadership responded with strong warnings, vowing to stop oil shipments from the region to countries it considers hostile.
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it “will not allow the export of even a single liter of oil from the region to the hostile side and its partners until further notice.”
Energy markets and governments worldwide have been closely watching the situation because the Strait of Hormuz is a key transit point for crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Amin Nasser, president and CEO of Saudi Arabia’s oil giant Aramco, said shipping companies had begun redirecting tankers away from the strait.
“The situation at the Strait of Hormuz is blocking sizable volumes of oil from the whole region,” he said. “If this takes a long time, that will have serious impact on the global economy.”
Fighting Spreads Across the Middle East
The broader conflict continued to spread across several countries in the Middle East.
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed seven people early Wednesday, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Among the victims was a Red Cross member who died from injuries after an Israeli strike targeted rescue workers earlier in the week. Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday also killed four people, including a paramedic affiliated with the Hezbollah-linked Islamic Health Authority.
An Israeli strike also killed a Lebanese soldier, bringing the number of Lebanese troops killed since the conflict began to five.
Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said it intercepted several missiles fired toward locations including Prince Sultan Air Base, a major facility jointly operated by Saudi and US forces. The ministry also reported destroying drones near two major cities.
In Iraq, drones targeted military facilities at Baghdad International Airport late Tuesday, according to security officials. Some of the drones landed near Iraqi security positions, while others fell close to logistics sites used by US-led coalition forces.
The United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems intercepted Iranian attacks early Wednesday. Authorities said the strikes killed six people and injured 122 others.
Bahrain also sounded air raid sirens after warning of an incoming Iranian attack, just a day after a strike in the capital Manama killed a 29-year-old woman and injured eight others.
Heavy Casualties and Rising Displacement
The Pentagon said US forces have struck more than 5,000 targets since the conflict began. It also confirmed that around 140 US service members had been wounded in the war. Most of the injuries were minor, with 108 personnel already returning to duty. Eight troops suffered severe injuries and seven have been killed.
Casualties across the region have been mounting. Officials reported at least 1,230 deaths in Iran, more than 480 in Lebanon and 12 in Israel.
Iranian leaders have ruled out negotiations despite sustained strikes on the country’s leadership, military infrastructure and nuclear programme.
Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X that Iran was “definitely not looking for a ceasefire.”
“We believe that the aggressor should be punched in the mouth so that he learns a lesson so that he will never think of attacking our beloved Iran again,” he said.
Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian security official, also issued a warning directed at Trump.
“Even those bigger than you couldn’t eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself,” he wrote.
Global Economic Concerns Grow
Iran has increasingly targeted energy infrastructure and shipping routes in what analysts say could be an attempt to create economic pressure on the United States and its allies.
Oil prices surged earlier in the week due to fears that the conflict could block supplies from the Gulf, though markets stabilised slightly on Tuesday as investors waited for signs about how long the war might continue.
The conflict has also triggered a humanitarian crisis. The United Nations refugee agency said more than 667,000 people in Lebanon have registered as displaced, with numbers rising by over 100,000 in just one day. More than 85,000 people have fled from Lebanon into neighbouring Syria.
Foreign nationals have also been leaving the Gulf region in large numbers. The British government said more than 45,000 UK citizens have left the region since the war began, while about 40,000 people returned to the United States, according to the State Department.
