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6h ago

Opening summary

Welcome to our live updates on developments across the Middle East region.

Iran has confirmed launching missile strikes targeting an airbase in Jordan that hosts American forces, along with locations in Kuwait and Bahrain. The Revolutionary Guards indicated that the missiles struck the Muwaffaq Salti airbase, known for housing US F-35 aircraft and supporting equipment.

Neither Jordan nor the United States has confirmed any strikes occurred, yet confirmation would represent the first such Iranian action against Jordan since the April ceasefire began.

The American strikes on Iran followed the downing of a US Apache helicopter above the strait of Hormuz, where two crew members were recovered in stable condition. In a social media statement Trump indicated the United States needed to reply to the helicopter incident.

Here is the latest:

The United States carried out several rounds of strikes on Iran after a military helicopter went down off the strait of Hormuz that Donald Trump attributed to Iranian action. The Associated Press noted the Apache helicopter crashed following contact with an Iranian drone, though whether the contact was deliberate remains unclear.
US strikes occurred along Iran southern coastline near the strait of Hormuz. After over three hours of operations, US central command (Centcom) declared the strikes finished while noting the United States stays prepared to counter any unwarranted Iranian moves.
Iran soon responded with its own attacks on US positions, per state media reports indicating American bases in the area and the fifth fleet in Bahrain faced drone strikes. Kuwait and Bahrain activated air raid sirens and noted air defenses engaged to counter incoming threats. Iran further stated it struck a US facility in Jordan using long-range missiles.
Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi stated no attack would remain without reply, shortly after US strikes began. Sharing an image of the strait of Hormuz labeled Forever Persian Gulf, Araghchi noted that despite setbacks in the field the US chose to probe Iranian resolve.
Five hours prior to the strikes Trump posted on social media that the US needed to address the helicopter incident from which two crew members were rescued in stable condition. Earlier Trump seemed to minimize the event in a Wall Street Journal phone interview calling it not a major issue and noting the pilot was unharmed.
Iranian state outlets indicated no air military activity occurred in the strait of Hormuz during the prior 24 hours, according to Reuters.
Lebanon health ministry reported 11 deaths from Israeli airstrikes on the southern city of Tyre on Tuesday. The state-run National News Agency noted the initial strike happened shortly before Israeli forces issued an evacuation alert for the full city and nearby zones ahead of further strikes.

Key events

2h agoCargo vessel trades shots with armed individuals on small craft near Yemen coast per UKMTO
5h agoThe fragile US-Iran ceasefire detailed
6h agoJordan confirms Iranian missiles intercepted prior to impact
6h agoOpening summary

Jennifer Rankin

Over 460 former European officials and leaders have urged the EU to cease overlooking Israeli actions in Palestine and apply sanctions.

In an opinion piece shared with European publications the group calls for the EU to halt preferential trade arrangements with Israel block goods from the occupied West Bank from entering the bloc and place sanctions on Israeli ministers.

The piece carries signatures from 18 former top politicians including former prime ministers Leo Varadkar of Ireland Robert Golob of Slovenia and Stefan Lofven of Sweden.

It also receives support from figures in nations that have avoided backing trade sanctions against Israel such as former Italian prime ministers Romano Prodi and Massimo d Alema along with German ex-vice chancellor Sigmar Gabriel.

In a subtle criticism of EU leadership including Ursula von der Leyen at the European Commission and foreign policy head Kaja Kallas the group urges the EU to demonstrate direction.

They state:

Alarmingly today the EU standing with its own citizens and voters along with much of the world faces damage from its lack of moral and political direction in defending international law.

The letter notes that Israeli operations in Gaza have resulted in at least 73000 deaths including over 21500 children since the October 7 2023 Hamas assaults that sparked the fighting. More than 900 Palestinians in Gaza have died since Donald Trump announced a ceasefire last October with conditions in the area remaining dire as UNRWA and NGOs highlight blocked essential supplies due to Israeli restrictions.

Attention also falls on state-supported settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank despite a July 2024 International Court of Justice ruling declaring all settlements unlawful and calling for their removal.

Calls to end Israel preferential trade status and broaden sanctions on Israeli officials increase pressure ahead of an EU foreign ministers gathering in Brussels to discuss the Middle East.

EU officials maintain no majority exists to end preferential trade with Israel or enact further steps though proposals stay available. Without a majority the Commission has avoided drafting plans to restrict trade with occupied areas.

Russia and China both partners of Iran have called for calm after fresh violence emerged in the Middle East.

Various involved sides should stay composed exercise restraint halt any escalation of conflict or tension and implement steps to reduce and ease strains Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated.

Russia foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova added We are deeply worried about this new phase of US-Iran armed clashes which started with unprovoked US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

We urge both parties to show restraint and end military actions at once.

Iran semi-official Mehr news agency reported blasts near Qeshm an Iranian island in the strait of Hormuz.

The agency noted The precise cause of these sounds remains unclear given their intensity the origin of the blast may lie some distance from Qeshm city or relate to activity in the strait of Hormuz.

State media citing Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported US strikes on Qeshm island earlier today.

Haroon Siddique

Thirty-two charities in England and Wales have given at least 28 million pounds to Israeli settlements deemed illegal under international law an MP stated.

Labour MP Melanie Ward noted that if gift aid applied to the donations in standard fashion it would imply taxpayers funded illegal settlements by 5.6 million pounds a situation she called unacceptable. Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper announced Tuesday that the Charity Commission would examine UK charities connections to settlements.

Ward previously chief executive of Medical Aid for Palestinians outlined their recent actions in a letter to the commission urging the regulator to investigate and remove them from the charity register.

She writes The presence and expansion of Israeli settlements in Palestine is widely seen as a key barrier to peace. Any support for the upkeep and growth of these settlements such as that provided by these 32 charities represents extremism and offers no benefit to the UK public.

Meanwhile in Lebanon the Israel Defense Forces has issued multiple alerts this morning urging residents in three southern Lebanese towns and villages to evacuate ahead of strikes.

The evacuation orders covered Ansariyeh Ghassaniyah and Houmine el-Faouqa directing people to avoid the areas and move north of the Zahrani River.

Earlier Israeli forces stated they conducted several strikes in Tyre and other southern Lebanon zones over the past day targeting Hezbollah facilities.

Cargo vessel trades shots with armed individuals on small craft near Yemen coast per UKMTO

The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported receiving notice of a cargo vessel exchanging fire with armed individuals on a small craft off the Yemen coast.

Security personnel on the cargo vessel repelled the attackers according to UKMTO. The event took place 88 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Balhaf this morning the agency noted.

In its alert UKMTO stated:

A cargo vessel reported approach by one craft carrying 6 armed persons. An exchange of fire occurred between the small craft and the cargo vessel Armed Security Team leading the small craft to withdraw.
Authorities are investigating.

No group claimed responsibility immediately though the Associated Press reported Houthi rebels in Yemen indicated they would resume attacks on Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea.

Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has spoken with counterparts in Turkey and Saudi Arabia per Iranian media.

According to state outlets Araghchi used the discussions to condemn the overnight strikes on Iran as a breach of sovereignty and affirm Iran right to respond in self-defense.

If the US truly seeks an agreement it must address Iranian requests for sanctions relief says Danny Citrinowicz former head of the Iran branch of Israeli military intelligence.

Today exchange of strikes illustrates how readily both Iran and the US can move toward further escalation says Citrinowicz now a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council.

He adds that no matter the pressure applied Iran has demonstrated it will not shift from its stance or reach an agreement without substantial economic relief.

If Washington refuses to accept this fact it should acknowledge the probable outcome ongoing clashes with Iran that might eventually escalate beyond control and lead to military conflict under worse circumstances.

Even a limited military effort to weaken Iran would not change Tehran negotiating stance. It has not occurred before and little suggests it would now. Iran emerges from the latest exchange of blows assured it can withstand pressure and reply to attacks.

Iran foreign ministry has cautioned that Gulf neighbors hold a legal and moral duty to block American and Israeli strikes.

In a statement issued hours after the exchange of fire between the US and Iran the foreign ministry noted there exists a:

Legal and moral duty of all regional countries especially those along the southern shores of the Persian Gulf to stop the US military and Israel from using their land or facilities to plan organize carry out or back hostile moves against Iran.

Donald Trump has responded to the latest exchange of strikes between the US and Iran by sharing a 26-year-old clip from the NBC series The West Wing.

Replying to the US military statement on self-defense strikes on Iran Trump shared a 1.33-minute segment from the show in which fictional president Jed Bartlet and his team discuss how to handle a US military plane shot down over Syria.

What value lies in a proportional response Bartlet portrayed by Martin Sheen asks his chief of staff and military advisers.

After growing frustrated with their replies he insists they pursue a disproportional response.