In some situations, ground attack aircraft and helicopter gunships will be employed against naval vessels. Many of these aircraft and helicopters are able to engage armoured vehicles or tanks and this capability is more than suitable for attacking merchant shipping and, warships. They are capable of creating a threat out of all proportion to the effort required to deploy them. The mere threat of mines is often enough to cause a significant disruption to naval operations or shipping. During the Persian Gulf War, the 1200-1500 mines Iraq laid off Kuwait were largely responsible for the decision not to conduct an amphibious landing during the war.
Mines are an attractive option for many small powers for the following reasons.
Maritime powers are highly vulnerable both in peace and war due to their dependence on the sea. Mining operations are far cheaper than counter mining operations, and they are far cheaper than other types of naval weaponry which inflict similar types of damage. Many small naval powers will attempt to use mines in order to deny their coastal areas to forces arrayed against them. Others will use mines offensively to deny port facilities or egress points to hostile fleets. The number of countries operating diesel-electric submarines continues to increase and they continue to pose a serious threat to naval operations, in the littoral as well as in the open ocean.