US President Donald Trump announced that American forces have "destroyed" Iranian military facilities on Harg Island, located off the southwestern coast of Iran. He also warned of possible attacks on oil facilities in the region.
According to Iranian agency Fars, thick smoke is rising over Harg, but Iranian forces continue their activities on the island despite Trump's statements about the destruction of military targets.
Fars also reported that more than 15 explosions were recorded during the attacks on the island, and according to available information, the oil infrastructure was not damaged.
An Iranian army officer stated that in response to any attacks on Iranian facilities, Iranian forces will strike at oil infrastructure linked to the US.
The spokesperson for the Central Command "Khatam al-Anbiya" issued a statement, which appears to be a response to Trump's warnings about attacks on Harg.
According to Iranian media, the representative stated that in the event of an attack on Iranian oil infrastructure, "all facilities belonging to oil companies in the region with ties to the US will be destroyed."
Earlier, Trump reported that the US had carried out attacks on Iranian military facilities on Harg and warned of possible strikes on Iran's oil infrastructure.
A major explosion and fire occurred at one of the leading oil refineries in Texas.
Local media report that a powerful explosion caused a fire in the tanks at the Bayport Choate petrochemical facility.
Firefighters have been battling the blaze for several hours. The causes of the incident have not yet been established, and authorities are considering various versions, including possible attacks from drug cartels from Mexico or Venezuela.
Additionally, Iran is considering allowing a limited number of oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz if payments for the cargo are made in Chinese yuan, according to CNN reports.
Iraqi officials reported that the helicopter pad of the US embassy in Baghdad was subjected to a rocket attack.
Despite Trump's support at the beginning of the war against Iran, governments of many countries express "concern" in negotiations, as reported by Bloomberg.
According to the agency, one of the leaders of the Persian Gulf countries expressed dissatisfaction with US actions in a conversation with a European colleague, noting that Trump has no clear plan. Another European leader expressed concern about the potential consequences of the war for the global economy and security.
Iran denied information about launching missiles towards Turkey, considering it a provocation by the US and Israel, — the Iranian armed forces headquarters.
Tehran insists on the need to investigate incidents related to the alleged missile launches from Iran towards Turkey.
According to the Corps of Islamic Revolutionary Guards, Iran attacked 10 sites where Israeli representatives could be located.
The US has sent 10,000 Merops interceptor drones to the Middle East, which were tested in Ukraine, to protect against Iranian attacks, Bloomberg reports.
US Army Secretary Driscoll noted that the drones were sent just five days after the start of operations against Iran.
Disruptions in energy supplies from the Persian Gulf will continue. Traders have begun preparing for prolonged chaos, which they predict may last for weeks or months, according to The Wall Street Journal. In recent days, the price of Brent crude oil has again exceeded $100 per barrel, raising concerns among traders.
Brief overview of events:
- Iraqi authorities reported a rocket hitting the helicopter pad of the US embassy in Baghdad.
- The Iranian agency Fars reported thick smoke over Harg Island following Trump's statements that the US struck Iranian military targets.
- A representative of the Iranian armed forces stated that in the event of damage to Iranian oil infrastructure, they will strike at US-linked facilities in the region.
- Several Persian Gulf countries reported intercepting air attacks from Iran, including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Israel also confirmed the shelling and interception of missiles.
- The Iranian agency Tasnim reported on a three-year-old child killed as a result of a missile strike in Iran's Khuzestan province.
- As a result of an Israeli strike on a medical facility in southern Lebanon, 12 medical workers were killed, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
2,500 Marines became the first US ground troops sent to the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Author: Roziland Jordan
Reporting from Washington, D.C., USA.
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit has departed from its port in Okinawa, Japan, aboard the USS Tripoli amphibious ship.
From this ship, the Marines will be sent to the "combat zone," which may include both crisis response and the capture of Iranian territories.
Thus, they became the first ground troops deployed in the US-Israeli war against Iran, although their actions take place both on land and at sea.
This indicates that the US is gradually increasing its military capabilities and does not plan to end the conflict anytime soon.
According to the Wall Street Journal, five American refueling aircraft were damaged in recent days at a base in Saudi Arabia.
According to unnamed US officials, the damage occurred as a result of an Iranian attack, but the timing of the incident is not specified.
The US Central Command declined to comment on the matter.
In the UAE, 10 people were detained for posting videos on social media in the context of the conflict.
The UAE Attorney General reported the detention of 10 individuals of various nationalities for posting both real and "fake" videos related to attacks on the country on social media.
According to the WAM agency, the video materials included the deployment of UAE air defense systems and fake explosions, as well as other fabricated footage showing attacks on well-known locations.
The prosecutor noted that posting such videos creates confusion and threatens public safety, as well as providing "hostile media" with material to undermine trust in the government.
The detainees face up to a year in prison and a fine of 100,000 dirhams (approximately $27,224) for "intentional deception threatening public safety" and spreading terror.
Israel reports rocket attacks in northern Galilee.
The Israeli Home Front Command recorded a rocket attack in the areas of Kfar Giladi, Kfar Yuval, and Metula around 04:22 local time (02:22 GMT).
The message included a call for local residents to seek shelter.
The Israeli public broadcaster KAN published footage of damaged vehicles as a result of the strike in Upper Galilee on Friday morning.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced criticism for his remarks that Iran "will receive no mercy," as the US and Israel continue their military actions against the country.
"We will continue to increase pressure, continue the offensive. No mercy, no compassion for our enemies," he told reporters.
The military terminology "no mercy" implies a refusal to capture and brutal treatment of the opponent. This contradicts the norms of the Hague Convention and other international treaties.
Domestic US laws, such as the Military Crimes Act of 1996, also prohibit such practices. US military codes contain warnings that the threat of "no mercy" is illegal.
Brian Finucane, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, noted that such comments from Hegseth raise questions about the reality of military rhetoric.
“These words are quite alarming,” Finucane said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
Details can be found here.
As a result of the Israeli attack on a clinic in Lebanon, 12 medical workers were killed.
Author: Heidi Pett
Reporting from Beirut, Lebanon.
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health, 773 people have died in the country since the beginning of the conflict, including 103 children, and more than 1,900 have been injured.
Just received information from the Ministry of Health that a medical center in the village in the south of the country was damaged as a result of a strike, resulting in the deaths of 12 medical staff.
These are only preliminary data, and the search for missing persons continues.
The deadly consequences of airstrikes are observed not only in the south but also in the capital, Beirut.
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