Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Mar 11: The United States military said it destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels on Tuesday as tensions escalated in the ongoing conflict with Iran, while Tehran vowed it would block regional oil exports to its enemies.

The developments came amid rising concerns over the safety of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime route through which nearly 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply passes.

According to the US military, the vessels suspected of laying mines were taken out during operations in the region. However, Donald Trump said in social media posts that there were no confirmed reports of Iran successfully planting mines in the waterway.

Trump warned that Iran would face retaliation “at a level never seen before” if mines were deployed in the strait.

As the conflict entered its 11th day, rhetoric from both sides intensified. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of more intense strikes, while the Pentagon reported that American forces had struck more than 5,000 targets since the fighting began.

Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said around 140 US service members had been wounded in the war, with most injuries described as minor. Eight troops sustained severe injuries and seven have been killed.

Meanwhile, Iranian leaders ruled out negotiations and launched fresh attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf states.

Multiple Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed seven people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Among the victims was a Red Cross member who died after his team was targeted while rescuing people following an earlier strike.

The Lebanese Armed Forces also reported the death of a soldier in an Israeli strike, bringing the number of Lebanese troops killed since the conflict began to five.

In Saudi Arabia, the defence ministry said air defences intercepted multiple missiles launched towards key locations including Prince Sultan Air Base. Authorities also destroyed drones near major cities and others heading towards the Shaybah oil field.

The United Arab Emirates reported that its air defences were responding to incoming Iranian attacks, which have so far killed six people and injured 122.

Sirens were also sounded in Bahrain following warnings of an Iranian attack. A missile strike earlier hit a residential building in Manama, killing a 29-year-old woman and injuring eight others.

In Iraq, drones targeted military bases near Baghdad International Airport, including areas used by coalition forces led by the United States.

Iran’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would not allow “even a single litre of oil” to be exported to hostile nations until further notice.

Amin Nasser, president and CEO of Saudi Aramco, said tankers were being rerouted to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, while the company’s east-west pipeline would soon operate at full capacity of seven million barrels per day to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

He warned that prolonged disruption in the strait could have serious consequences for the global economy.

According to officials, at least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, while more than 480 have died in Lebanon and 12 in Israel.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said more than 667,000 people in Lebanon had been displaced by the fighting, with over 85,000 crossing into neighbouring Syria.

Meanwhile, thousands of foreign nationals have been leaving the Persian Gulf region. The UK Foreign Office said more than 45,000 British citizens had departed, while the US State Department said about 40,000 Americans had returned to the United States since the conflict began.