U.S. forces struck multiple Iranian naval vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, destroying several ships—including at least 16 suspected mine-laying craft—as air operations against the Iranian regime continue. The strikes came amid reports that Tehran was deploying naval mines along the narrow waterway, a critical global chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply moves each day. President Trump issued a direct warning that any attempt to block or mine the strait would trigger severe military consequences. (According to CENTCOM the U.S. has already hit more than 5,000 targets in the first 10 days of operations). . “If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait…we want them removed IMMEDIATELY,” the president wrote on social media, adding that failure to do so would result in retaliation “at a level never seen before.” . Within hours, U.S. forces began targeting Iranian minelayers believed capable of seeding the shipping lane with explosives. According to...