New York Times: The scope of the war in the Middle East widened on Wednesday, as American and Saudi fighter jets attacked Iran-allied militias in Iraq, Iran fired missiles at bases in Jordan used by U.S. forces, and an American-owned tanker in an Egyptian port was set on fire in an apparent drone strike…
Trump says Iran ‘going to get a beating’ as fresh fighting shatters calm
US President Donald Trump promised retribution after the US military said it intercepted a “surprise attack” by Iran on its forces, ending days of relative calm in the Middle East. “We are going to beat the f**king sh*t out of them,” Trump told Fox News. Jordan’s military said it intercepted five missiles launched from Iran early Wednesday.
Joint US-Saudi strikes: US Central Command also said Saudi Arabian forces joined strikes against the Iran-allied Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq. The PMF said at least 20 people were killed. So far, Saudi Arabia has largely resisted being pulled fully into the Middle East conflict…
Iran to get Chinese shoulder-launched missile systems in weeks, sources say
Iran is expected to receive within weeks a first shipment out of up to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air-defence missile launchers, three sources familiar with the deal told Reuters, as it rebuilds its defences amid war with the United States.
The purchase, valued at $60-70 million, is one of Tehran’s largest-known efforts to strengthen its short-range air defences since the outbreak of its war with the U.S. and Israel, which exposed gaps in Iran’s ability to protect military sites and strategic infrastructure…
US oil inventories fall to ‘precariously low’ level as Iran war disrupts supply
Analysts warned the big drawdown pushed stocks of crude and petrol far lower than expected and was eroding America’s ability to be the supplier of last resort to parts of the world such as Asia and Europe that were heavily dependent on Middle Eastern oil…
Yemen’s Houthis considering fees for ships sailing through Red Sea, sources say
The Houthis were looking into imposing fees on most traffic through the narrow Bab el-Mandeb gateway, which links the southern Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, the sources said. No timeframe was given at this stage for implementation, they added…
US military may require some troops in Mideast to surrender cell phones, sources say
The top U.S. commander for the Middle East has warned troops that cellphone videos shared online can help Iran target American bases, and sources told Reuters some deployed personnel could soon be ordered to surrender their phones.
Any crackdown on mobile communications would add a new dimension to the conflict for the thousands of U.S. troops in the region, many of whom still rely on phones to periodically message loved ones and assure them they are well…
The U.S. Commander With a Two-Week Plan to Escalate Strikes in Iran
If the U.S. wants military action to be effective, Cooper has said, the U.S. must step up its air attacks, significantly blunting Iran’s missile threat, to try to break the stalemate. This “go big” approach, which is among a series of options he has developed, would reduce the need for the U.S. to use defensive munitions because Iran would have less capability to attack.
Caine, who is described as more cautious, often alerts the White House to the “second and third order consequences” of military options, the people said. He has raised concerns about the U.S.’s dwindling supply of air defense interceptors, which are needed elsewhere around the world to defend U.S. bases and allies, as well as fend off Iran’s missile attacks. Caine believes that the low inventories wouldn’t preclude a resumption of major combat operations against Iran but would add to the risk, the people said…
Oil prices surge after Donald Trump says Iran will ‘get a beating’ for missile attack
Trump added that negotiations between Washington and Tehran would continue. “We’re going to let them keep talking,” he said.
Oil prices climbed sharply following Trump’s remarks, extending earlier gains. Brent crude was up nearly 7 per cent on the day at just below $90 a barrel…
Trump Encounters a More Determined Iran as War Widens
With Iran flexing its might, President Trump appears to be weighing military options again, after rejecting plans to escalate…
Saudi Arabia Reluctantly Enters U.S.-Iran War
Saudi Arabia entered the U.S.-Iran war on Wednesday with airstrikes in Iraq. Its delayed entry, six months into the war, illustrated the bind the kingdom faces as it tries to deter attacks without getting sucked into the broader conflict, analysts say…
Israel’s decades-old US support risks losing Democrats
Support for Israel among Democratic voters has plummeted, candidates critical of Israel are winning Democratic primaries and even moderate lawmakers are increasingly willing to challenge decades of U.S. support for Israel…
Two Ships Hit in Apparent Drone Strike at Egyptian Port
An explosion at a port on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast set fire to two ships, including a U.S. gas storage tanker, according to maritime tracking firms…