BREAKING — March 10, 2026 — Day 11 of Operation Epic Fury has delivered two seismic developments that could reshape the trajectory of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. The U.S. Central Command announced it has destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran’s defiant selection of Mojtaba Khamenei — the slain supreme leader’s son — has drawn a sharp rebuke from President Trump, who told Fox News he is “not happy” with the choice.
The twin developments underscore a conflict that is intensifying on every front, even as Trump administration officials send conflicting signals about whether the war could end “soon.”
CENTCOM Destroys 16 Mine-Laying Vessels Near Strait of Hormuz
In one of the most significant naval engagements of the conflict so far, U.S. Central Command confirmed Tuesday evening that American forces “eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz.”
CENTCOM released dramatic video footage showing precision munitions striking nine of the vessels, most of which were moored at the time of the attack. The strikes came after CNN reported that Iran had begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz — the world’s most critical energy chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of all global crude oil passes daily.
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since early March, when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any ship passing through would be attacked. The mining operation represented a dramatic escalation of Iran’s strategy to weaponize global energy markets in response to Operation Epic Fury.
President Trump had issued a stark warning on Truth Social prior to the strikes: “If Iran does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America twenty times harder than they have been hit thus far.”
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed at a Pentagon press conference that CENTCOM continues to actively hunt and strike “mine-laying vessels” and “mine storage facilities” to prevent further disruption to international shipping.
Mojtaba Khamenei Named Supreme Leader — Trump Says ‘I Don’t Believe He Can Live in Peace’
In a move that signals Iran’s refusal to capitulate despite 11 days of devastating airstrikes, the 88-member Assembly of Experts selected 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s third supreme leader on March 8 — just eight days after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the opening salvo of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28.
The selection was made despite explicit warnings from U.S. and Israeli officials against replacing the elder Khamenei with his hardline son, who is widely viewed as close to the IRGC’s top military command. The choice is being interpreted by analysts as a defiant signal that Iran’s theocratic regime intends to fight on rather than negotiate.
President Trump made his displeasure clear in an interview with Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst: “I’m not happy. I don’t believe he can live in peace,” Trump said, leaving open the possibility that the new supreme leader could himself become a target.
The New York Times described the selection as a move that “signals defiance amid war,” noting that Mojtaba Khamenei’s first notorious public episode involved the controversial 2005 presidential election. He has long operated in the shadows as one of the most powerful — and secretive — figures in the Islamic Republic.
State media broadcast rallies of supporters gathering at Tehran’s Enghelab Square, but reporting from The Guardian revealed a deeply divided nation, with many Iranians expressing fear of increased repression under the younger Khamenei’s rule.
‘Most Intense Day of Strikes’ — Hegseth Promises Escalation
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared Tuesday that Day 11 would see “the most intense day of strikes” since Operation Epic Fury began, deploying the “largest wave of fighters, bombers, and strikes” of the entire campaign.
“Iran stands alone, and they are badly losing on Day 10 of Operation Epic Fury,” Hegseth told reporters at a Pentagon briefing, adding that the war would end “on our timeline.”
The Pentagon confirmed that Iran’s offensive capabilities have been dramatically degraded:
- Ballistic missile attacks: Down more than 90% since the start of operations
- Drone attacks: Down approximately 85%
- Targets struck: More than 5,000 since February 28
These figures paint a picture of a military campaign that has systematically dismantled Iran’s ability to project force, though the conflict continues to exact a human toll on both sides.
140 U.S. Troops Wounded — The Cost of Operation Epic Fury
The Pentagon confirmed Tuesday that approximately 140 American service members have been wounded during the first 10 days of sustained combat, with eight suffering severe injuries. The casualties come primarily from Iranian missile and drone strikes on U.S. positions across the Middle East, as well as attacks by Iranian proxy forces.
The acknowledgment came as Vice President Vance and Secretary Hegseth attended a dignified transfer ceremony — the solemn military ritual honoring fallen service members returned to U.S. soil.
Meanwhile, Iran’s UN ambassador presented a devastating accounting of the war’s impact on Iranian civilians, claiming that nearly 10,000 civilian sites have been struck, including approximately 8,000 residential homes, with the death toll surpassing 1,300 people. These figures have not been independently verified.
Conflicting Signals: Will the War End ‘Soon’?
Perhaps the most confusing aspect of Day 11 has been the wildly conflicting messaging from Trump administration officials about the war’s trajectory.
President Trump told reporters at a news conference in Florida that the fighting is “going to be ended soon,” a statement that briefly sent oil prices tumbling from four-year highs. But he simultaneously warned that the U.S. would “strike Iran harder if needed” — and Hegseth’s promise of the “most intense” strikes yet seemed to directly contradict any notion of a near-term resolution.
The mixed messaging has sent global markets on a roller coaster. Oil prices, which had spiked to four-year highs on Monday amid fears of a prolonged disruption to Gulf energy supplies, fell sharply after Trump’s comments before stabilizing as the reality of continued escalation set in.
Adding to the economic fallout, the total cost of Operation Epic Fury has already surpassed $9 billion, according to Pentagon estimates — a figure that continues to climb with each wave of Tomahawk missiles and fighter sorties.
The Broader Picture: Lebanon Strikes and Regional Spillover
The conflict continued to spill beyond Iran’s borders on Tuesday. Five people were killed in strikes on Lebanon, according to the country’s health ministry, as Israel expanded operations against Hezbollah targets in coordination with the broader campaign.
The IDF confirmed separate airstrikes targeting an “IRGC Drone Command Headquarters” at an unspecified location in Iran, which Iranian forces had been using to coordinate drone launches against Israel. Satellite imagery from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirmed that combined forces had struck and heavily damaged the Shahed Aviation Industries Production Facility in Esfahan — the factory responsible for producing Iran’s feared Shahed-136 kamikaze drones.
Meanwhile, investigative footage published by the Associated Press shows what experts identify as likely an American Tomahawk missile hitting a compound in southern Iran, just meters from a school where a deadly, unclaimed blast killed over 165 people at the start of the war — raising difficult questions about civilian casualties and targeting accuracy.
What Comes Next?
As Day 11 draws to a close, the war shows no signs of slowing despite Trump’s optimistic rhetoric. The destruction of Iran’s mine-laying fleet near the Strait of Hormuz may temporarily reduce the threat to global energy supplies, but Iran’s willingness to escalate — combined with the selection of a hardline new supreme leader who appears determined to fight on — suggests the conflict is entering a new and potentially more dangerous phase.
Funerals for several top Iranian commanders killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes are scheduled for Wednesday, events likely to fuel further resolve among Iran’s military establishment.
The question is no longer whether Operation Epic Fury has degraded Iran’s military capabilities — the 90% reduction in missile launches speaks for itself. The question is whether that degradation will translate into the regime change that Washington and Jerusalem have stated as their objective, or whether a wounded but unbowed Iran will find new ways to strike back.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as the situation evolves.