The United States has sunk 5 crude oil tankers belonging to Iran after attacking them. In retaliation, Iran launched missile attacks on 20 vessels, including 2 American warships, in the Strait of Hormuz.
As a result, the conflict in West Asia has intensified again. The war between Iran and the United States has been ongoing for about 6 months. Through the mediation of Pakistan and Qatar, a temporary peace agreement was signed between the two countries. This brought peace for 2 months. However, since neither country renewed the agreement, the war has started again.
Last Saturday, the United States said that Iran launched ballistic missiles targeting three ships, including an American aircraft carrier, and in response the U.S. successively attacked and sank eight crude oil tankers belonging to that country. The United States said that all the sailors aboard them were first warned to evacuate, and only after that were the ships sunk.
The U.S. military’s Central Command has said that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard targeted and attacked ships twice, but no vessels were damaged, the ships continued patrolling the waters, and no Americans were injured or killed in the Iranian attacks.
Iran attack in Jordan: In retaliation for the U.S. attack, Iran fired ballistic missiles targeting U.S. military bases in Jordan. The Jordanian military said that 18 ballistic missiles were intercepted and destroyed in the air, and that only 2 missiles fell in an uninhabited area. The Jordanian military also noted that there were no casualties in Iran's missile attack.
Similarly, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has announced that two American warships and eight crude oil tankers were attacked. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard also said that another 10 crude oil tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz were attacked with missiles. No announcement has been made by either the Iranian side or the American side regarding the extent of damage to those ships.
American underwater drone seized: Iran’s navy has said that it has seized an American underwater drone that tried to enter the Strait of Hormuz. However, the U.S. Navy stated that the drone vessel was an old vessel, had malfunctioned and lost control, was not under their control, and that Iran would not be able to collect technical information or any other data from it.
Tension in Kuwait and Bahrain: Iran has once again warned that it will carry out attacks on oil tankers stationed in the sea areas of Kuwait and Bahrain, and that the sailors on board must evacuate immediately. As a result, severe tension prevails in Kuwait and Bahrain.
The British maritime trade operations center has also confirmed that ships in the sea area have come under attack. The center said that numerous merchant ships in the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf have been attacked.
Sanctions on Iranian airlines: In a move to further economically pressure Iran, U.S. President Trump has imposed economic sanctions on the country’s airlines. As a result, the operations of passenger and cargo aircraft belonging to more than 10 Iranian airlines are likely to be affected.
Israeli expert warning: Pointing out that ships are being attacked one after another at sea, Danny Citrinowicz, an expert affiliated with an Israeli institute on national security affairs, has warned that such attacks will only lead to further escalation of the conflict and will have severe consequences for the global economy.
Protest in South Korea: Meanwhile, opposition has arisen in South Korea over the country’s decision to deploy warships in the Strait of Hormuz at the request of the United States. In the South Korean capital, Seoul, many people staged a protest urging South Korea to reject the U.S. request.