Iran launched a drone assault targeting Bahrain, while a ship in the Strait of Hormuz separately came under attack Saturday, likely Tehran’s response to overnight airstrikes by the United States.
The attacks across the Persian Gulf show the danger of the Iran war again spinning out of control, even after Iran and the US reached an interim deal to try to agree on a final accord to end the conflict. The US had launched its airstrikes in response to an Iranian drone attack on a ship trying to get out of the strait on Thursday, continuing a string of attacks that have shaken the uneasy ceasefire in the war.
Meanwhile, a multinational maritime body overseen by the US Navy said Saturday that it would expand a route near Oman in the strait to allow for both inbound and outbound traffic — likely setting up a new flashpoint with Tehran.
Bahrain condemns attack
That Iran targeted Bahrain was likely not coincidental. The kingdom has been one of the strongest critics of Iran and is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet. It just hosted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council's foreign ministers, which ended with a call for an end to Iran's attacks and for the strait to be completely open.
A statement from Bahrain's Foreign Ministry said a “number of Iranian drones” targeted the country. It called the attack “a flagrant threat to the security of citizens and residents.” Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard earlier on Saturday issued a statement carried by the state-run IRNA news agency saying it had targeted several locations “of the US terrorist army in the region.” It did not name what areas were targeted.
Tanker attacked, claims British military
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said a tanker was attacked on Saturday in the strait, saying the crew was safe and no environmental damage was reported. No one immediately claimed the strike, but suspicion immediately fell on Iran.
Alternative sea route near Oman opening up
Just after the report of the ship attack, the Joint Maritime Information Centre, overseen by the US Navy, said the route near Oman’s shores is expanding to allow for both inbound and outbound traffic. A maritime body overseen by the US Navy said on Saturday that a route through the Strait of Hormuz near Oman’s shores is expanding to allow for both inbound and outbound traffic. The announcement by the Joint Maritime Information Centre serves as another warning to Iran that the US is pushing to reopen the strait.
Iran has insisted ships must obey its orders and is warning it will start charging fees for transit through the strait, through which a fifth of all oil and natural gas once passed. The US and Gulf Arab states have rejected Iran's demands. The Strait is considered around the world as an international waterway, despite being the territorial waters of Iran and Oman.
Also read: Israeli strikes on Lebanon threaten proposed US-Iran peace deal
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