The United States has carried out new “defensive” strikes on an Iranian military site allegedly posing a threat to US forces and maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it launched an attack on an “American airbase” and warns of “more decisive” action should US “aggression” continue.
The Israeli military issues forced displacement orders for the entire population of southern Lebanon – tens of thousands of people – with troops crossing the strategic Litani River and being confronted by Hezbollah.
Aid agencies warn of an “absolute catastrophe” in south Lebanon during Israel’s relentless bombardment and intensifying ground invasion.
Iran says 26 vessels passed through Strait of Hormuz over past day
Iran’s IRGC Navy says 26 vessels successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours in coordination with its forces.
“Obtaining permission and coordination for traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is a definite matter, and passing through other routes is considered a disruption and will be dealt with accordingly,” the IRGC said in a statement relayed by Iran’s SNN news agency.
“The Strait of Hormuz is controlled and managed solely by the IRGC Navy, and any disruption in this strait will be met with our decisive response.”
Stocks slipped from record highs after a new US military strike on Iran and attacks on Kuwait dented investor confidence in a peace deal.
Oil rose as much as 4 percent and bond prices tumbled as the escalation muddied signals on peace talks.
“Over the next two weeks, we expect either a deal for a new ceasefire, or the current ceasefire will have collapsed with active hostilities resuming,” said Madison Cartwright, a senior geo-economics analyst at Commonwealth Bank Australia.
He put a 70 percent probability on a deal, but said the fate of the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain.
“Insurance through the strait has become prohibitively expensive and it’s unclear how and at what price insurance will be made available,” he added. “It is also not clear if Iran will charge a toll, or a toll by another name.”
With transits through Hormuz still at a trickle, Brent crude was up 2.7 percent at $96.8 a barrel. The price has fallen back from four-year highs above $126 in late April, but remains 33 percent above pre-war levels and 50 percent higher than a year ago.
A few days ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the army is going to start expanding ground operations and move beyond the so-called Yellow Line.
A few weeks ago, the Israeli army drew this line across southern Lebanon with all towns and villages south of that line designated as no-go areas for residents. Since then, Israel has been levelling villages to the ground.
Despite this, Hezbollah’s armed drones have continued to target Israeli troops occupying southern Lebanon and northern Israel. The Israeli army this morning announced the death of yet another soldier.
The Israeli army’s objective is to try to push Hezbollah farther back. We know Israel has been operating north of the “Yellow Line” in the Nabatieh area, which is why there have been so many air strikes and a lot of artillery shelling.
Israel is trying to advance under heavy firepower but is facing resistance from Hezbollah fighters who are putting up a fight.
Israel is basically trying to expand the area of occupation. But it’s not going to be able to achieve any of its strategic objectives, which are disarming Hezbollah and stopping those drone attacks, because Hezbollah can just move farther back and continue launching fibre optic drones, which can target positions 30km [55 miles] away.
US accuses Iran of ‘egregious ceasefire violation’ after attack on Kuwait
US Central Command has issued a statement on the latest exchange of attacks reported around the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM said Iranian forces “launched five one-way attack drones that posed a threat” in and around the strait earlier this morning.
US forces “successfully intercepted” the drones and “prevented a sixth drone” from being launched at an “Iranian ground site in Bandar Abbas”, it said.
“Iran launched a ballistic missile toward Kuwait that was successfully intercepted by Kuwaiti forces,” in what it called an “egregious ceasefire violation”.
Earlier, Iran’s Tasnim agency reported the US had struck a military site in southern Iran.
