Jared Szuba
@JM_Szuba · Gulf & Arab world
Jared Szuba is Al-Monitor's Pentagon correspondent.
Trump says he thinks the war with Iran “will end immediately after” the midterms.
Vessel struck by a projectile off the southern coast of Iraq, per UKMTO
UKMTO reports a vessel was spotted listing off the coast of UAE, “possibly indicating water ingress following an attack from an unknown projectile.”
Iran responding with swift escalation targeting Jordan after the US military destroyed what it said were five IRGC-linked tankers
New: The US military says it destroyed five Iranian IRGC-linked oil tankers in retaliation for a new ballistic missile attack on a US Navy warship. • M/T Derya • M/T Horizon • M/T Kaviz • M/T Charminar • M/T Riesco
There were candlelight vigils in Tehran. Iran’s then-President Mohammed Khatami sought to visit Ground Zero to pay respects (the Bush admin. rejected his request). Publicly, Khatami called the Sept. 11 attacks “the ugliest form of terrorism ever seen.”
US official tells @AlMonitor that the US military’s strikes on Iranian tankers tonight were a response to renewed Iranian attacks targeting the US Navy:
A US military official confirmed to @AlMonitor the loss of an undersea drone in the vicinity of the Hormuz Strait due to malfunction “more than a day ago,” but said it was an “older model that neither collected sensitive data nor carried any classified sonar or radar equipment.”
US military official confirms the loss of an undersea drone in the vicinity of Strait of Hormuz: “An underwater drone operated by US forces malfunctioned more than a day ago. It was surveying regional waters in support of ongoing operations,” the official told @AlMonitor. “The defective drone was an older model that neither collected sensitive data nor carried any classified sonar or radar equipment. US operations in area waters continue,” per the official.
The US military struck three Iranian crude oil tankers in retaliation for attempted attacks on a US aircraft carrier and a destroyer, per CENTCOM. @AlMonitor reported on this new US strike policy earlier this week: https://t.co/CUdI8aqrS9
UKMTO updating its reporting with Monday’s projectile attack on the Sidr tanker, which operator Bahri has now confirmed resulted in the deaths of two crew members. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry this morning condemned the lethal attack, which it attributed to Iran.
No US casualties reported in the attack on Erbil, an official tells @AlMonitor. “Our people are fine,” the official added.
“[O]n the battlefield, Iranian planners may see renewed confrontation as an opportunity to continue pushing US military infrastructure farther away from Iran.” @HamidRezaAz’s analysis proves prescient yet again
Our reporting @AlMonitor on today’s US strikes on Iran’s mainland — the first in a month — and the IRGC’s retaliation in the region. Updated with additional details: https://t.co/sCj9FlK1rU
New @AlMonitor — The US military launched its first strikes on Iran’s mainland in a month, attempting to maintain the upper hand in the Strait of Hormuz after twin attacks on Saudi tankers & Monday’s thwarted missile attack on a US base in Jordan More: https://t.co/sCj9FlK1rU
Trump says ongoing US strikes in Iran are a response to Iran allegedly attempting to place additional mines in the Strait of Hormuz, and to Iran’s firing of eight ballistic missiles at a US base in Jordan early Monday. https://t.co/hH6zx8Df2G
The US is once again carrying out airstrikes on Iranian territory in response to Iranian attacks on commercial shipping, per US CENTCOM
US official: American military forces are “are monitoring the area closely and remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce” through the Strait of Hormuz. Top US commander in region said US military cleared Hormuz Strait’s int’l shipping routes of naval mines last week
The US military carried out airstrikes targeting two Iranian launchers on Larak Island earlier today, per a US official to @AlMonitor The US military observed IRGC forces “preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into Strait of Hormuz,” the official said.
Egypt’s Banque Misr branch in UAE blacklisted in opening wave of US’ redoubled sanctions to isolate Iran. Asked by a reporter Thursday why his admin. hasn’t yet sanctioned Chinese banks doing business with Iran, Trump responded, “Who said I’m not?” https://t.co/FG9qHPcJX3
Cooper’s comments come after Oman announced plans w/ Iran for “a joint temporary navigational corridor” via Hormuz, along w/ de-mining plans. IRGC has claimed in recent months the TSS route (which Cooper said today has been cleared of Iranian mines) remains a “restricted area.”
CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper says “internationally recognized transit routes in the Strait [of Hormuz] are free of Iranian sea mines” due to US military efforts. Cooper says US forces have “meticulously and quietly cleared” Hormuz’ int’l TSS route “of sea mine threats”.
Mazlum Abdi, the Kurdish commander of formerly US military-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia alliance — which played a central role in the ground war to defeat ISIS — announced the SDF’s dissolution & integration into state institutions in a brief address in Damascus.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: “At dawn begins an economic D-Day — … “Our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains the tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone.”
The USS George Washington has reached the Arabian Sea where it is expected to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln
Connected stories
- Trump Says Iran War Will End Immediately After U.S. Midterms
- Jordan Intercepts 18 of 20 Iranian Missiles in Renewed Attack
- U.S. Strikes Iranian Tankers After New Missile Attempt on Navy Warship
- IRGC Claims It Attacked U.S. Unmanned Vessel Near Strait of Hormuz
- U.S. Strikes Three Iranian Oil Tankers After IRGC Targets Navy Warships
- Iranian State Media Reports Saudi VLCC SIDR Stopped in Hormuz
- Bahri Confirms Two Filipino Sailors Died in SIDR Hormuz Incident
- IRGC Claims Combined Missile-and-Drone Strikes on U.S. Bases in Erbil
- U.S. Forces Begin Striking IRGC Targets in Iran After Attempted Attacks
- U.S. Forces Complete Wave of Strikes on IRGC Targets in Iran
- Iran Fires Ballistic Missiles at Two U.S. Bases in Jordan
- Jordan Says Eight Missiles Destroyed After Iran Targeted U.S. Bases