Washington, April 23 -- US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he has ordered the United States Navy to "shoot and kill" any boats found laying mines in the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, marking a sharp escalation in maritime tensions linked to Iran.
The statement comes after the US Department of Defense said its forces boarded a "sanctioned stateless vessel," M/T Majestic X, in the Indian Ocean overnight.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said there should be "no hesitation" in targeting even small vessels involved in mining operations, adding that US mine-sweeping units were actively clearing the strait.
The directive comes amid an intensifying US naval campaign aimed at disrupting Iran-linked maritime networks.
The US D...