International News
Iran Strikes US Base, Targets 20 Vessels as Hormuz Crisis Deepens
Iran and the United States have exchanged fresh attacks in the Middle East, deepening their six-month-old conflict and raising fears of a wider disruption to global oil supplies.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Wednesday that it had attacked 20 US vessels attempting to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that normally carries around a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas.
The latest escalation came after US forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday.
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The US military said the strikes followed an Iranian attack on an American warship, the second reported attack on a US naval vessel in less than a week.
In retaliation, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had launched missiles at the US Al-Azraq air base in Jordan.
Iranian state media reported that the attack damaged maintenance and repair facilities, deployment locations and shelters used for fighter jets.
Jordan’s army, however, said it intercepted 18 missiles launched from Iran towards the kingdom.
The latest confrontation has further intensified the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely controlled since the war began in February.
Traffic through the waterway has been virtually paralysed, with Tehran requiring vessels to obtain permission and pay transit fees before passing through the strait.
Iran threatens Gulf tankers
Iran has also threatened to target oil tankers operating near US allies Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for the American strikes on its vessels.
The Revolutionary Guards warned crews aboard oil tankers in the area to leave their ships, saying they “will be targeted.”
The warning has heightened concerns over the safety of commercial shipping and the possibility of further disruptions to energy supplies from the oil-rich Middle East.
Oil prices rose sharply amid the latest escalation, with Brent crude climbing to $99.46 per barrel in Asian morning trade.
West Texas Intermediate, the main US crude benchmark, also rose to $94.45 per barrel.
Rubio issues warning
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Iran would face further consequences if it continued attacking American naval vessels.
“Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they’re going to lose tankers, and I think you’ll see that again today,” Rubio told reporters on Tuesday during a visit to Colombia.
Iranian media also reported that a US missile struck a tanker off the coast of Kharg Island, although no casualties were reported.
Iran’s Army Chief of Staff, Ali Abdollahi, had earlier warned that Tehran would strike US bases across the region if Iranian oil tankers were attacked.
Iran claims US drone seizure
The Revolutionary Guards also claimed on Tuesday that they had seized an American submarine drone in the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as “one of the most modern, unmanned” US vessels.
The US military disputed the claim, saying the drone had malfunctioned and was an older model that did not contain sensitive information.
Iranian state television separately reported that the Guards had attacked two US destroyers with ballistic missiles, although the US military had not immediately commented on the claim.
As the confrontation continues, concerns are mounting that prolonged fighting around the Strait of Hormuz could further restrict the movement of oil and gas and push global energy prices higher.
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
SEE ALSO: How the Strait of Hormuz Attack Could Trigger a Fresh Global Oil Shock
According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.
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