header logo
Vallibel FD
Mogo Academy
Selan Bank
Latest
US insists Strait of Hormuz is open as it exchanges strikes with Iran
Jul 13, 202607:36 AM
US insists Strait of Hormuz is open as it exchanges strikes with Iran
Mobitel inner 1278

The US insists the Strait of Hormuz is open, despite Iran saying it has closed the waterway amid renewed strikes.

 

Hostilities, which flared up again this week, continued on Saturday after the US said it had struck more than 140 targets across Iran. The attacks were a response to Iranian forces hitting a ship passing through the strait, which it said was using an unapproved route.

 

Iran has been trying to assert control over the waterway, and early on Sunday said it was closed until further notice.

 

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also launched wide-ranging attacks on US bases and allies across the region on Sunday, marking an escalation in the scale of hostilities.

 

It said it had hit a US base in Jordan, while the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain all said they had responded to missiles and drones from Iran.

 

The BBC has approached US Central Command (Centcom) for comment on the attack in Jordan.

 

Qatar, a mediator in ceasefire talks, had not been attacked since April, while the UAE had not been attacked since May.

 

On Sunday evening, Centcom announced another round of strikes against Iran, which it said started at 17:00 ET (22:00 BST) and would "continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz".

 

On Sunday afternoon, Iran's IRNA news agency said missiles were launched by the "enemy" towards Qeshm Island - a strategically important island in the Gulf, home to an important IRGC base.

 

The renewed fire has put in jeopardy an interim ceasefire agreement signed last month, which aimed ​to reopen the Strait and eventually bring a permanent end to the conflict.

 

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump declared the Iranian attacks meant the ceasefire was over, while Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US of violating the deal.

 

However, Trump said talks would still continue and mediators were trying to revive the process.

 

US media reported that Iran told American officials attacks on tankers earlier this week were a mistake and blamed a rogue internal group.

 

The latest hostilities were sparked after the IRGC said it had fired a naval cruise missile at a vessel that was attempting to sail along an unapproved route.

 

US Central Command (Centcom) said the IRGC "blatantly attacked" a Cyprus-flagged vessel which was "unable to continue its journey" due to damage to the engine room.

 

A crew member from the MV GFS Galaxy ship was missing, it added.

 

The UK's Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had been informed by military authorities that the crew of the vessel were forced to abandon ship and were in a lifeboat.

 

"Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed," Centcom wrote on X.

 

It said US strikes hit 140 Iranian military targets, including missile and drone sites, communication networks, and coastal surveillance locations.

 

The statement was shared by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who wrote: "Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay."

 

The IRGC said the US had targeted "a number of coastal bases and telecommunications towers on the southern coast".

 

In response, Iran said its "first phase" of retaliation included strikes on the Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, saying it had destroyed the base's command and control centre and MQ9 drone hangars.

 

On Sunday, US Central Command reiterated the Strait was open, warning the US military was in position to make sure it stayed free-flowing.

 

Earlier Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is also the country's chief negotiator with the US, wrote on X that the "era of one-sided deals is OVER".

 

He went on: "We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking."

 

Source: BBC

--Agencies 

Disclaimer: All the comments will be moderated by the AD editorial. Abstain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or slanderous. Please avoid outside hyperlinks inside the comment and avoid typing all capitalized comments. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by flagging them (mouse over a comment and click the flag icon on the right side). Do use these forums to voice your opinions and create healthy discourse.

Comments

0
Comments are disabled

Note: Due to legal constraints, the Ada Derana Editorial team has taken a decision to disable comments on all articles concerning ongoing court procedures.

MostRead
Mobitel 1278
VideoStories
 CPC bears a loss of Rs. 66 on every litre of diesel - CPC Chairman explains fuel subsidy

CPC bears a loss of Rs. 66 on every litre of diesel - CPC Chairman explains fuel subsidy

Govt. to provide Rs. 40 bln fuel subsidy amid surge in global fuel prices

Govt. to provide Rs. 40 bln fuel subsidy amid surge in global fuel prices

 Case against ex-President Ranil adjourned until November for Attorney General’s advice

Case against ex-President Ranil adjourned until November for Attorney General’s advice

Appeals Court dismisses MP Dilith Jayaweera’s writ application over contempt referral

Appeals Court dismisses MP Dilith Jayaweera’s writ application over contempt referral

Sri Lanka at UN backs Palestinian rights; FM Herath urges stronger multilateral action & UN reforms

Sri Lanka at UN backs Palestinian rights; FM Herath urges stronger multilateral action & UN reforms

Namal remanded again in two cases;  CIABOC tells court illicit funds were used for Krrish project

Namal remanded again in two cases; CIABOC tells court illicit funds were used for Krrish project

Metro takes another step forward:  112 more buses added to service as President joins launch

Metro takes another step forward: 112 more buses added to service as President joins launch

New education reforms set for Grades 2 and 6 next year; Cabinet gives nod for 2027 implementation

New education reforms set for Grades 2 and 6 next year; Cabinet gives nod for 2027 implementation

39th shooting in 2026 rocks Baddegama; ‘Kalu Nona’ killed in suspected gang rivalry in the South

39th shooting in 2026 rocks Baddegama; ‘Kalu Nona’ killed in suspected gang rivalry in the South

“Have built a nation where law applies regardless of status” No one is above the law, President says

“Have built a nation where law applies regardless of status” No one is above the law, President says

Global Power shifting towards Asia from West; Nations battling for supremacy in Indian Ocean –Patali

Global Power shifting towards Asia from West; Nations battling for supremacy in Indian Ocean –Patali

Navy seizes Rs. 1.5 billion narcotics haul in Jaffna; One suspect arrested, dinghy seized

Navy seizes Rs. 1.5 billion narcotics haul in Jaffna; One suspect arrested, dinghy seized

Floodwaters persist as many rivers reach minor flood levels, several areas still inundated

Floodwaters persist as many rivers reach minor flood levels, several areas still inundated

Ex-Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena’s wife remanded over bribery charges

Ex-Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena’s wife remanded over bribery charges

Sri Lanka’s Parliament approves 22nd Amendment to Constitution with a special majority

Sri Lanka’s Parliament approves 22nd Amendment to Constitution with a special majority

Lassana Flora