New Delhi, March 11 -- The United States military has struck and destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying naval vessels near the Strait of Hormuz in a preemptive operation, as Washington warned Tehran of unprecedented consequences should it move to choke off one-fifth of the world's oil supply - a move that would send shockwaves through global energy markets already destabilised by weeks of conflict.

Sirens wailed across the Middle East late Tuesday and into Wednesday as Israel and the United States pressed their assault on Iran, whilst Iranian forces struck back against Israel and American allies throughout the region.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps announced it had launched its 35th wave of operations, targeting American military b...