US Navy sailor prepped for minesweeping in Strait of Hormuz injured in bizarre attack

WorldHealth & Fitness
24 Apr 2026 • 1:24 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

US Navy sailor prepped for minesweeping in Strait of Hormuz injured in bizarre attack

  • A US sailor, en route to the Strait of Hormuz for mine countermeasures, was medically evacuated after being scratched by a monkey during a stopover in Phuket, Thailand.
  • The sailor received medical care and was subsequently transferred to Japan for further treatment, with officials stating there were no operational impacts to the mission.
  • The Strait of Hormuz is currently undergoing mine clearance operations, following mines laid by Iran, a process that could reportedly take up to six months to complete.
  • President Trump stated that US minesweeping vessels are clearing the strait and that the US Navy has orders to "shoot and kill" Iranian small boats involved in laying mines.
  • The ongoing closure of the vital oil-shipping lane has led to a dramatic rise in oil prices and prompted warnings from regulators about a potential global recession.

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