Published
Updated
Reading time: 2min – video: 3min
Tension rose a notch in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday March 11. The Americans accuse the Iranians of mining this strategic zone. The US military destroyed 60 mine-laying ships. Iran responded by attacking three cargo ships within hours of each other.
This text corresponds to part of the transcription of the report above. Click on the video to watch it in full.
A Thai-flagged transport ship on fire in the Strait of Hormuz. Its hull is completely gutted. The boat is believed to have struck an unidentified object. In total, in the area today, three commercial ships, another cargo ship and a container ship were hit. Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the Iranian naval forces, threatens onShip crews (…) ignored the warnings and intended to cross the strait, but were intercepted. Any ship intending to pass must obtain permission from Iran.”
The American army responds. It broadcasts images of strikes targeting Iranian ships presented as minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz. In total, 16 boats were destroyed yesterday. American intelligence suspects the Iranians of having started laying mines in the strait.
These mines are dropped from the back of small boats, as in these images broadcast by Iranian television. Or even more astonishing, from the ground, with rocket launchers. The head of the rockets detaches to land on the sea. The mines used are mainly of two types. Some are light and drifting. They explode on contact or when a metallic mass is detected. Acoustic mines in the seabed can distinguish a military ship from a commercial ship, for example. Proudly displayed by Iranian state television in these maritime tunnels, the Iranians would have a stock of 2000 to 6000 mines, in the middle of speedboats and anti-ship domiciles.
Does this mean that the Strait of Hormuz is becoming the scene of a naval battle? Etienne Marcuz, associate researcher at the Foundation for Strategic Research, adds: “Iran no longer has a major vessel, but it continues to have the power to cause harm, whether through drones or mines. It is more of a naval guerrilla war than a naval war strictly speaking. If several hundred or even thousands of mines are laid, it will take months and months to be able to neutralize all these mines..”
Extreme tension this Wednesday, March 11, as Iran threatens the ports of the Persian Gulf countries and the United States advises Iranian civilians to stay away from the ports of the Strait of Hormuz.
