In a textbook special operations strike on day 72 of the 2026 US-Iran war, U.S. Navy SEAL teams intercepted and destroyed an Iranian mine-laying fleet attempting to sow underwater explosives across the Strait of Hormuz.
Operating under cover of darkness, SEAL operators aboard rigid-hull inflatable boats and supported by MH-60 Seahawk helicopters engaged a formation of five Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels loaded with naval mines. In a fierce close-quarters battle, the SEALs used precision small arms fire, grenades, and Hellfire missiles from overhead helicopters to sink all five vessels in rapid succession. Dramatic footage released by the Navy shows multiple Iranian boats exploding and sinking in flames.
The operation successfully prevented what U.S. officials say would have been a major mining effort aimed at crippling commercial shipping and further threatening the already damaged USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group.
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command called the raid “highly successful,” stating that the destruction of the mine-laying fleet significantly reduces the immediate threat to international navigation through the critical chokepoint.
This bold action comes just hours after Iran’s reckless torpedo attack on the USS Gerald R. Ford and follows weeks of Iranian attempts to close the Strait using missiles, fast attack boats, and submarines.
Despite the intense fighting, the U.S. maintains overwhelming force in the region with two carrier strike groups, A-10 Warthogs, B-2 stealth bombers, and over 13,000 Marines supported by V-22 Ospreys.
U.S. Central Command reports nearly 200 American troops injured across the theater with 13 confirmed deaths. President Donald Trump praised the SEALs, stating: “Our warriors just sent another clear message to Iran — you will not close the Strait of Hormuz. America controls these waters.”
Brent crude prices remain extremely high above $148 per barrel as markets continue to react to the ongoing instability.
With U.S. Navy SEALs once again proving their unmatched skill in the Gulf, Iran’s efforts to turn the Strait into a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly minefield have suffered a serious setback.
The situation remains extremely volatile and is developing rapidly.
