President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that the US military was sinking Iran’s Navy, and has already destroyed nine warships. The 79-year-old posted on Truth Social that Americans plan to attack even more vessels. This comes as Tehran began striking several Gulf countries, including the UAE and Bahrain, after its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed.
The Pentagon intensified its bombings of Iran’s military, deploying B-2 stealth bombers from the US to strike at hardened, underground Iranian missile facilities with 2,000-lb bombs.
“I have just been informed that we have destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships, some of them relatively large and important. We are going after the rest — They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also! In a different attack, we largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters. Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Why US struck Iran’s Navy
The US strikes come as Iran has warned about closing the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which approximately a fifth of the world’s oil supply flows. On Saturday, Iranian ships broadcast messages, warning commercial ships that the Strait of Hormuz was closed. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed responsibility for attacks on ships and tankers in the region.
At least three ships were attacked in the strait on Sunday, maritime security agencies said. One of them was off the coast of Oman and was ‘struck by an unknown projectile above the waterline. Although the engine room was originally reported as on fire it has now been reported that the fire is under control,’ the British maritime security agency UKMTO said in a statement.
In a separate incident, another vessel was ‘struck by an unknown projectile causing a fire. The fire has been extinguished and the vessel intends to continue on its voyage’, UKMTO added.
USS Abraham Lincoln attacked?
Meanwhile, the IRGC claimed that it had targeted American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with four ballistic missiles. However, US CENTCOM rubbished the claim.
The US Central Command said in a post on X that the American warship continues to launch aircraft. The Lincoln is one of two aircraft carriers that the US military has deployed to the region.
