Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:06pm on 23 Apr 2026,Thursday International
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the Navy to “shoot and kill” any small boats attempting to lay mines in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, marking a sharp escalation in tensions with Iran. The directive, issued via social media, emphasized there should be no hesitation in using lethal force against such vessels. The move follows reports of Iranian-linked boats disrupting shipping and recent seizures of oil tankers, despite an ongoing but fragile ceasefire. The U.S. has also intensified mine-clearing operations in the vital waterway, which carries a significant share of global oil supplies, raising concerns over energy security and potential conflict escalation. (PC: The Hindu)
