U.S. Publishes Footage of Strikes on Iranian Naval Vessels, Including Catamarans, Minelayers, and Submarine
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The United States military has released video showing a series of strikes on Iranian naval ships amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. The footage, shared by U.S. Central Command, appears to show American forces hitting multiple types of Iranian naval vessels, including mine‑laying boats and larger warships in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The announcement came as tensions in the Middle East remain high following a wave of U.S. and allied airstrikes on Iranian military sites. The central waterway near the Gulf carries a large share of the world’s oil and gas shipments, making any naval clash there a serious concern for global trade.
Minelayers Targeted Near Key Shipping Route
U.S. Central Command said its forces struck and destroyed at least 16 Iranian minelayer vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on March 10. These small ships are believed to have been used to deploy naval mines, which could disrupt commercial traffic through this critical route for crude oil transport. The released video shows explosions and missiles impacting the clustered fleet of boats.
President Donald Trump commented on the strikes, saying several mine‑laying boats were “completely destroyed,” and warned Tehran against further attempts to block the strait. He noted that technology previously used against drug traffickers was being applied to remove the threat posed by these vessels.
Analysts say the minelayers were mostly inactive and moored at the time of the attack, but their destruction signals growing U.S. concern about a possible attempt to hinder shipping through the busy waterway. The conflict has already caused disruptions in daily passage for tankers and other cargo ships, adding pressure on global energy markets.
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Larger Iranian Vessels Also Struck
In addition to the minelayers, separate military footage shows U.S. strikes against a Shahid Soleimani‑class missile corvette — an Iranian catamaran‑hull warship — near the port city of Bandar Lengeh. This vessel, one of Iran’s more advanced surface combatants, was reportedly hit and left burning, becoming part of a broader U.S. effort to degrade Iran’s naval capacity.
This strike on the corvette follows earlier reports of U.S. forces engaging other Iranian naval units, including engagements involving submarines in the Indian Ocean. One U.S. submarine attack reportedly sank an Iranian frigate, marking a rare modern use of a heavyweight torpedo against a surface warship.
The released footage forms part of a larger set of military actions under “Operation Epic Fury,” a campaign initiated by the United States and its allies in late February. Since then, Iranian forces have continued attacks on Gulf states and U.S. interests, including missile and drone strikes. U.S. military leaders say the strikes on Iranian naval vessels aim to prevent threats to international maritime traffic and maintain freedom of navigation.
