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Trump orders Navy to ‘shoot and kill’ any boat suspected of laying mines in Strait of Hormuz
The statement comes amid heightened maritime tensions in the region, where naval activity and vessel seizures have increased following recent confrontations.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday (April 23) issued a sharply escalatory directive, ordering the Navy to use lethal force against any boats suspected of laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints.
In his Truth Social post, Trump said he had instructed the Navy to “shoot and kill any boat” involved in mine-laying activity, including what he described as “small boats.”
He added that there should be “no hesitation” in responding to such threats.
Trump also claimed that US naval forces are already conducting mine-sweeping operations in the region and said he has ordered those efforts to be expanded “at a tripled-up level.”
The statement comes amid heightened maritime tensions in the region, where naval activity and vessel seizures have increased following recent confrontations involving Iran-linked forces and Western naval operations.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a strategic global energy corridor, with a significant portion of the world’s oil shipments passing through it. Any disruption in the waterway has raised concerns over global energy security and potential military escalation.
Trump’s remarks mark a significant intensification in rhetoric, signalling a more aggressive US posture toward suspected maritime threats in the region.
