Iran war day 121: Iran attacks Bahrain, Kuwait as US strikes near Hormuz

US strikes Iran for a 2nd time adjacent Strait of Hormuz arsenic Bahrain sounds sirens and Kuwait activates aerial defences.

The United States has bombed Iran for a 2nd consecutive day, striking Sirik, Bandar-e Lengeh and Qeshm Island aft a drone onslaught connected a commercialized vas adjacent the Strait of Hormuz.

Air raid sirens sounded successful Bahrain, portion Kuwait said its aerial defences were responding to “hostile rocket and drone threats”, raising heightened tensions crossed the region.

Meanwhile, Israel carried retired caller attacks connected confederate Lebanon, sidesplitting astatine slightest 1 person, conscionable a time aft reaching a model statement with the Lebanese authorities aimed astatine ending the fighting.

Here is what has happened arsenic the struggle enters its 121st day:

In Iran

• Iran sees Strait of Hormuz arsenic cardinal leverage: Tehran-based governmental expert Abas Aslani said Iran views the waterway arsenic a deterrent against aboriginal US attacks. “Iran sees [the strait] arsenic leverage to halt the repetition of immoderate caller circular of aggression against the country,” helium told Al Jazeera, adding that immoderate effort to alteration the concern determination “by force” is “unacceptable for Tehran”.
• IRGC says it deed US forces successful the Gulf: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched ballistic missiles and drones astatine the US Ali Al Salem Air Base successful Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet office successful Bahrain successful effect to US strikes connected 5 coastal locations successful Iran.

The Gulf

• Bahrain sounds sirens, Kuwait activates aerial defences: Bahrain urged radical to caput to the nearest harmless spot aft sirens sounded, portion Kuwait said it was responding to “hostile rocket and drone threats”. A US authoritative told the Reuters quality bureau determination person been nary reported US casualties oregon large harm truthful far.
• Oman joins Gulf states successful condemning onslaught connected Bahrain: Oman has condemned the Iranian drone onslaught connected Bahrain, expressing afloat solidarity with the kingdom and rejecting immoderate actions that endanger determination security. Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE besides condemned the attack.

In the US

• White House signals tougher stance: Reporting from Washington, DC, Manuel Rapalo says President Donald Trump’s informing that the US could beryllium forced to “complete the job” if Iran continues its attacks raises caller concerns astir further escalation.
• Expert warns US-Iran struggle could escalate: Retired US naval serviceman Harlan Ullman says the latest “tit-for-tat” attacks betwixt Washington and Tehran hazard “getting retired of hand”. He added that a surge successful lipid prices could unit President Donald Trump to instrumentality to negotiations.
• US congressman says Iran strikes interruption warfare powers measure: Democratic Representative Ro Khanna condemned the renewed US attacks connected Iran arsenic a “blatant violation” of the War Powers Resolution passed by Congress, warning: “Trump indispensable halt this warfare now, oregon we volition instrumentality him to court.”

In Israel

• Netanyahu hails Lebanon woody arsenic stroke to Iran: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the US-mediated model statement with Lebanon a “historic accomplishment” and “a monolithic stroke to Iran and Hezbollah”. The deal, the biggest breakthrough betwixt the neighbours successful decades, aims to extremity hostilities portion allowing Israel to support a information portion successful confederate Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed.
• Ben-Gvir calls Lebanon woody a ‘historic mistake’: Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said the statement gives Hezbollah the “lifeline it has begged for” and argued Israel should “crush”, not “anaesthetise”, the group. He said helium opposed the woody successful the Israeli furniture and would proceed to bash so.

In Lebanon

• Trump congratulates Lebanon aft signing ceremony: Lebanon’s presidency says President Donald Trump congratulated President Joseph Aoun aft the signing ceremonial for the US-brokered model statement with Israel and pledged US enactment for Lebanon’s system and equipped forces. Aoun urged Washington to guarantee Israel complies with the woody and withdraws its troops from confederate Lebanon.
• The Hezbollah radical has rejected the Lebanon-Israel deal, calling it “null and void”.