UK Readies Mine-Clearing Mission for the Strait of Hormuz

Hundreds of British sailors are waiting aboard the RFA Lyme Bay, anchored off Gibraltar, for a mine-clearing mission in the Strait of Hormuz. The operation comes as the waterway’s closure by Iran has paralysed international shipping and sharply driven up energy prices. The British naval force in Gibraltar will only begin the operation after a peace agreement is reached with Iran. The vessel has been loaded with ammunition and mine-search drones for the deployment. The RFA Lyme Bay is due to link up with the British destroyer HMS Dragon and allied ships before heading to the Gulf via the Suez Canal. The mission is being prepared as US President Trump has criticised allies for not supporting the war effort against Iran and urged NATO members to secure their own oil supplies.