The Pentagon is zeroing in on mine-laying vessels which are serving to Iran hold a stranglehold over the Strait of Hormuz, army leaders mentioned Thursday, as markets proceed to really feel ache from the waterway’s closure.
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, told reporters at the Pentagon that the U.S. had destroyed 44 mine-laying Iranian vessels to fight Tehran’s functionality to mine the strait and pose a risk to business vessels which have largely prevented crusing there.
Air Pressure A-10 Warthog assault jets at the moment are “within the battle,” Caine mentioned, looking quick boats Iran may deploy to mine the strait.
Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers Basic Dan Caine maintain a briefing on the Pentagon in Washington, March 19, 2026.
Evan Vucci/Reuters
The A-10 has been in service for the reason that Nineteen Seventies and is the Air Pressure’s workhorse for offering shut air help, in a position to assault enemy forces inside shut proximity of U.S. troops. Its signature weapon is a 30mm chain gun, a large automated weapon in a position to fireplace as much as 4,200 rounds per minute, in line with Basic Dynamics, the weapon’s producer.
President Donald Trump has mentioned that if wanted U.S. Navy warships may escort business transport by the strait in convoy operations to facilitate business transport that, in odd occasions, transits some 20% of the world’s oil commerce. However army specialists have advised ABC Information that the Navy can not start escort responsibility till the mine risk is addressed.
Trump mentioned Thursday, whereas seated with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi within the Oval Workplace, that the U.S. army may handle the problem with out its European allies. Caine has mentioned he would assessment a “vary of choices to set the army circumstances” with the president if ordered to escort business vessels.
Two of the Navy’s three warships with counter-mine capabilities which are primarily based within the Center East, often stationed in Bahrain, have been in a unique theater for scheduled upkeep on Wednesday, a Navy spokesperson advised ABC Information.
The USS Tulsa and the usSanta Barbara, each outfitted with counter-mine capabilities and autonomous methods, are in Singapore for “scheduled upkeep and logistics,” Navy Cmdr. Joe Hontz mentioned in an announcement to ABC Information.
The Battle Zone first reported that the vessels had left Central Command. The Pentagon has not disclosed the situation of the third, the usCanberra.
U.S. CENTCOM shared video of U.S. forces eliminating a number of Iranian naval vessels, together with what they are saying are 16 minelayers close to the Strait of Hormuz, March 10, 2026.
U.S. Centcom/X
The U.S. has no ships in its fleet that are solely designed to hunt and sweep mines. Its 4 ships with that unique mission have been decommissioned in September.
Central Command has publicized army motion aimed on the Iranian mine risk — together with strikes this week with bunker-busting bombs alongside the Iranian shoreline, from the place Iran may probably launch anti-ship missiles at vessels transiting the strait.
However mines are low-cost and simply deployed, even by small boats — an “uneven weapon,” mentioned retired US Adm. James Foggo, who commanded the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet.
“Some would possibly say [mines are] a poor man’s weapon,” Foggo mentioned. “So if you do not have anything, you lay mine. … [and] any vessel is a minelayer. So you may have a [boat] that appears like a fishing vessel working round and rolling mines off the strict in the dead of night.”
Military experts told ABC News that Marines who’re deploying to the area may participate in floor raids — quick fight landings adopted by swift exits — to focus on belongings, like missile and drone depots, alongside Iran’s coasts that would menace U.S. and business vessels.
“We’ve functionality” to demine the Strait, Foggo mentioned, “but it surely must get there, and earlier than you place the aptitude to work, it’s important to suppress the Iranian potential to assault you from different means than mines.”
Foggo may speculate solely that the ships have been in Asia “as a result of the assets [are] being husbanded and put into some sort of a secure haven in order that they may very well be used, if needed, if the Iranians mined the straits.”
President Donald Trump speaks throughout a gathering with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi within the Oval Workplace on the White Home in Washington, March 19, 2026.
Alex Wong/Getty Photographs
Trump mentioned Thursday Japan was “actually stepping as much as the plate” with out offering particulars.
“Not like NATO,” he then added, taking a jab at European allies. Trump has repeatedly called for other countries to assist with opening the strait.
“We do not want something from Japan or from anybody else, however I believe it is acceptable that individuals step up,” the president mentioned.
Chatting with Japanese media after her assembly with Trump, Takaichi condemned the escalating disaster within the strait however stopped in need of committing to offer help.
“Whereas the dialog was of a delicate nature, the consensus was that guaranteeing the protection of the Strait of Hormuz is of the utmost significance,” she mentioned. “Nevertheless, there are specific actions we will and can’t take inside the scope of Japanese regulation, so I supplied an in depth and thorough rationalization of this matter.”
Foggo, who was the commander of Allied Joint Pressure Command in Italy, mentioned an operation to demine the strait can be “a giant elevate for america.”
European leaders have mentioned they don’t wish to contain their militaries within the strait amid energetic hostile fireplace between the U.S., Iran and Israel, reasoning that they didn’t provoke the battle.
“I believe we do want their assist,” Foggo mentioned of European allies. “You all the time need allies and companions and buddies with you, and so I am glad that the president [asked] for assist.”
“I perceive there’s some reluctance there,” he added.
ABC Information’ Steven Beynon, Isabella Murray and Emily Chang contributed to this report
