ISTANBUL 

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that countries, affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Strait of Hormuz, will send warships in conjunction with the US to keep the strait “open and safe.”

In a statement on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump urged China, France, Japan, South Korea and the UK to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

“In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water,” he added,

Trump claimed that the US has destroyed "100% of Iran’s military capability, but it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are.”

He also pushed back against reports claiming that five US refueling aircraft were struck and rendered unusable in an attack at an airport in Saudi Arabia, calling it "fake news."

"Four of the five had virtually no damage, and are already back in service," he stated.

Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz since March 1, following the launch of joint attacks by Israel and the US against Iran on Feb. 28, which have so far killed more than 1,200 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hostilities have since escalated.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets, resulting in casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.