Trump Orders Navy to 'Shoot and Kill' Any Boat Laying Mines in Strait of Hormuz

President Trump issued a social media post on April 23 ordering the US Navy to 'shoot and kill any boat' laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The order appeared directed at IRGC fast-attack craft, which satellite imagery confirmed had deployed in large numbers — a Sentinel-2 satellite image captured 33 IRGC fast-attack craft near the Kargan coast returning from Hormuz patrols. Trump's directive represented an escalation in the rules of engagement amid the ongoing ceasefire — military officials confirmed the Navy already had standing orders to respond to threats, but Trump's public post was seen as a direct warning to Tehran. Iranian IRGC commanders did not immediately respond publicly. The CBS News live blog confirmed the order, noting US naval commanders were assessing how to balance the directive with existing ceasefire terms. The mine-laying threat is considered real: IRGC has mine-laying capabilities and the strait's 21-mile-wide navigable channel would be highly vulnerable. US mine-clearing operations in the strait had been ongoing since April 11.