US strikes Iran after attack on Cyprus-flagged ship – The Greek Herald - EUROPE SAYS
The United States has launched fresh strikes against Iran after Tehran attacked a Cyprus-flagged commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iran to announce the strategic waterway would be closed. . .
The United States has launched fresh strikes against Iran after Tehran attacked a Cyprus-flagged commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iran to announce the strategic waterway would be closed “until further notice. ”According to the Pentagon, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards fired on the Cyprus-registered container ship, leaving one crew member missing and disabling the vessel after damage to its engine room. The crew later abandoned ship and evacuated by lifeboat. Iran said it targeted the vessel after it allegedly ignored repeated warnings and travelled along an “unauthorised route. ”“Following this incident… the Strait of Hormuz will be closed until further notice and until the end of American interventions in this region,” the Revolutionary Guards said. US PresidentDonald Trumpconfirmed the retaliation, telling CNN: “We hit them very hard last night. ”“They were giving up everything, and then all of a sudden two hours after that they hit a ship with a drone. These people, there is something wrong with them,” he said. US Central Command said its forces struck around 140 Iranian military targets in the third round of attacks this week, while Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said: “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay. ”Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US military bases and radar sites in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. Authorities in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain reported intercepting missile attacks, while Kuwait said three border posts and an offshore oil platform were damaged. Despite Iran’s declaration, US Central Command maintained the Strait of Hormuz remained open, stating: “Iran does not control the strait. Traffic is flowing. ”The escalating conflict has also affected Australia, with the Australian Embassy in Qatar closing to the public and the Australian Government updating its Smartraveller advice, urging Australians to reconsider travel to Qatar due to the risk of further military action and an increasingly unpredictable security environment.