WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: In a significant escalation of Middle East conflict, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American forces conducted intensive additional strikes on multiple strategic military targets inside Iran. The heavy bombardment followed what US officials described as an Iranian attack on the Panama-flagged commercial tanker M/T Kiku near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Reacting swiftly to the flare-up, US President Donald Trump asserted that the United States is fully prepared to “militarily complete the job” to neutralize regional threats. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) noted that while an unidentified projectile struck the vessel damaging its bridge, it resulted in zero casualties or environmental pollution.
Tehran responded aggressively on Saturday, officially accusing the United States of completely violating the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to de-escalate the ongoing war. The Iranian leadership issued a stern warning to neighboring Arab states, cautioning them not to allow their sovereign territories to be utilized as staging grounds for Western military actions against Iran. Defending their counter-maneuvers, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy stated that their strikes on US-linked targets were executed strictly in self-defense, adding that Washington’s breach of operational commitments would invite an even broader military response.
The military confrontation coincided with a critical diplomatic shift as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that a US-mediated framework agreement with Lebanon has effectively eliminated all strategic roles for Iran and Hezbollah within the country. Under the terms, Israel will maintain a dedicated military security zone inside southern Lebanon, a move that Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described as a devastating strategic blow to Tehran’s regional network. Minister Katz reiterated that Israeli troops will remain stationed in the designated security zone until Hezbollah is comprehensively disarmed. Adding to Iran’s isolation, major regional powers including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan issued a joint statement condemning an Iranian drone strike on Bahrain, labeling it a direct violation of international law and state sovereignty.
ലഘു വിവരണം
ഹോർമുസ് കടലിടുക്കിൽ പനാമ കപ്പലായ ‘എം/ടി കികു’വിന് നേരെ ആക്രമണമുണ്ടായതിന് പിന്നാലെ യുഎസ് സേന ഇറാനിലെ സൈനിക താവളങ്ങൾക്ക് നേരെ വീണ്ടും ശക്തമായ ബോംബാക്രമണം നടത്തി. ആവശ്യമെങ്കിൽ സൈനിക നടപടിയിലൂടെ ദൗത്യം പൂർത്തിയാക്കുമെന്ന് യുഎസ് പ്രസിഡന്റ് ഡൊണാൾഡ് ട്രംപ് മുന്നറിയിപ്പ് നൽകി. എന്നാൽ യുഎസ് വെടിനിർത്തൽ കരാർ ലംഘിച്ചതായി ഇറാൻ കുറ്റപ്പെടുത്തി. അതേസമയം, ലെബനനുമായുള്ള പുതിയ കരാറിലൂടെ ഇറാനെയും ഹിസ്ബുള്ളയെയും പൂർണ്ണമായി ഒറ്റപ്പെടുത്താൻ കഴിഞ്ഞതായി ഇസ്രായേൽ അവകാശപ്പെട്ടു. ബഹ്റൈന് നേരെ ഇറാൻ നടത്തിയ ഡ്രോൺ ആക്രമണത്തെ സൗദി, ഖത്തർ ഉൾപ്പെടെയുള്ള അറബ് രാജ്യങ്ങൾ അപലപിച്ചു.
(With inputs from Iranintl)
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