U.S. intel assessment says military identified at least 10 mines in Strait of Hormuz

Politics U.S. intel assessment says military identified at least 10 mines in Strait of Hormuz By James LaPorta James LaPorta National security coordinating producer James LaPorta is the national security coordinating producer for the CBS News' Washington bureau. He is a former U.S. Marine veteran infantryman and veteran of the Afghanistan war. Read Full Bio James LaPorta May 19, 2026 / 6:11 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Washington — A recent American intelligence assessment showed that U.S. forces have identified at least 10 mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter. The officials spoke with CBS News anonymously in order to discuss sensitive national security matters.CBS News previously reported in March that there were at least a dozen underwater mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to American intelligence assessments at the time. The same month, officials said the mines currently employed by Iran in the strait are the Iranian-manufactured Maham 3 and Maham 7 Limpet mines. Another U.S. official put the count at less than a dozen. The Maham 3 is a moored naval mine that uses magnetic and acoustic sensors to detect nearby vessels without physical contact. It can engage targets within about 10 feet, analyzing movement to determine the most effective moment to activate. The Maham 7 is known as a "sticking mine" and is designed to rest along the seabed, relying on a combination of acoustic and three-axis magnetic sensors to detect nearby vessels. It targets medium-sized ships, landing craft and smaller submarines. CBS News was unable to determine what type of mines were in involved in this latest assessment. Earlier this month, the U.S. military began directing commercial ships toward a route in the Strait of Hormuz farther from Iran that the Navy has spent weeks clearing of mines. The U.S. warned that transiting the normal route could be...