The US military said late last night that it was attacking Iran for the 10th consecutive night in an attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. These new attacks come after the death of another American soldier and attacks by Iran on America’s allies Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain (where the US Navy’s 5th Fleet is stationed). US Central Command said on social media that these latest attacks are being carried out to further reduce the Iranian military capability, which is used to attack commercial ships in Hormuz.
Although America and Iran are again moving closer to full-scale war, there is a ray of hope on the diplomatic front as Iran’s Interior Minister has gone to Pakistan, which is an important mediator in this conflict, for talks.
Movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz
An interim agreement reached last month to end the fighting has broken down. The movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz has stopped to a great extent. And as the fighting intensifies, both sides have targeted critical civilian infrastructure on which millions depend.
A new potential threat to global energy markets emerged on Monday when Iran-backed rebels in Yemen said they planned to block Saudi Arabia from sending ships to the Red Sea. This is an alternative route to export oil during the war.
Oil prices rise as tensions rise
Oil prices have increased in recent weeks due to increasing tensions. Benchmark Brent crude was trading above $88 a barrel on Monday and the price of regular gasoline in the US reached an average of $4 a gallon, putting pressure on Americans’ wallets ahead of this autumn’s midterm elections.
The US Army has identified two soldiers killed in the attacks in Jordan. A third person went missing in these attacks. Additionally, the army on Saturday confirmed the death of another soldier during the process of controlling and destroying an Iranian drone in Iraq after downing it.
Iran will have to pay a heavy price
President Donald Trump warned on social media on Monday that whenever Iran kills an American soldier, it will have to pay a heavy price for that murder. Trump was scheduled to attend a ceremony Tuesday evening at Dover Air Force Base, where the body of at least one soldier was scheduled to arrive.
America attacks Iran
The US military’s Central Command said that the air strikes, for the ninth consecutive night, targeted Iran’s military command center, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and communication networks. Last week, the US attacked bridges and a tower at a port in Iran.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA said the US strikes killed at least one person near the northwestern city of Tabriz, about 520 kilometers (325 miles) from the capital Tehran. Tabriz is believed to contain an underground missile base operated by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
Attack off the coast of UAE
According to IRNA report, the US strikes are also likely to target Bandar Imam Khomeini in Khuzestan province, Sirik and Jask in Hormozgan province, and Konark and Chabahar in Sistan and Baluchistan province. The British Army’s ‘United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations’ Center said on Monday evening that a day earlier a second ship had been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. This attack took place near the coast of United Arab Emirates.
Another ship caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by a projectile (missile or rocket-like weapon) off the coast of Oman. UKMTO said that the crew abandoned the ship. The ship continued drifting and hours later was still on fire.
Tankers targeted in Hormuz Strait
The route around Oman is a route the US military has been encouraging ships to use to avoid Iranian control. The Guard later claimed it was targeting tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran also attacked America’s allies in the Middle East.
Kuwait said its air defense systems responded to the incoming attacks, and Jordan’s military said Monday evening it had shot down three Iranian missiles. It also said that there was no damage or casualties. There was no immediate statement from Iran. Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry condemned Iranian drone attacks targeting the country’s air traffic system, saying they pose a threat to civilian travel.
Hormuz Strait important in this conflict
A new pressure point could emerge for world energy markets as Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia on Monday. The Iran-backed Houthis said they would block shipping between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. This step has been taken in response to the attack on Sana’a International Airport last week, for which he blamed Saudi Arabia.
Dependent on the pipeline to the Red Sea
Due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has been relying on a pipeline to the Red Sea to transport millions of barrels of oil to market. The Houthis have previously shown their ability to disrupt shipping there. During the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, they targeted ships for months and attacked more than 100 ships. There was no immediate reaction from Saudi Arabia.
Threat to target power stations and bridges
Trump has threatened to target Iran’s power stations and bridges to force Tehran to loosen its grip on the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, one-fifth of the world’s oil supply was through this route. Recent attacks indicate that the US military is implementing that plan.
Last week, the US reimposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports to stop the shipment of Iranian crude oil. The army says it has since diverted seven ships and rendered one useless.
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