President Donald Trump on Sunday issued a stern warning to Iran, threatening that the US will 'completely destroy' its power plants if it doesn't fully open the Strait of Hormuz within the next 48 hours. Replying to this, Tehran said it would respond to any such strike with attacks on US and Israeli energy as well as infrastructure assets.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP"
The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the rest of the globe's oceans, is a critical pathway for the world's flow of oil. Attacks on commercial ships and threats of further strikes have stopped nearly all tankers from carrying oil, gas and other goods through the passage.
Saudi air defence intercepts missiles, drones
Saudi Arabia's air defence early on Sunday tracked the launch of three ballistic missiles towards its capital, Riyadh, intercepting one, even as the other two fell in an uninhabited area, according to the Defence Ministry.
The ministry also said it downed six drones headed toward the kingdom's eastern region, one of its least densely populated areas near Iran and home to major oil installations. No casualties or damage were reported.
Projectile hits close to a vessel off the UAE coast
A projectile struck close to a bulk carrier off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, causing an explosion, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said on Sunday. The attack occurred about 15 nautical miles north of Sharjah in the UAE. All the crew members are safe.
Meanwhile, late on Saturday, Iranian missiles struck two communities in southern Israel in dual attacks, leaving dozens injured and buildings shattered. The area is not far from Israel's main nuclear research centre.
The death toll from the war has risen to more than 1,500 in Iran, 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel, and 13 US military troops, as well as a number of civilians in the Gulf region. Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced.
Patients evacuated from heavily damaged Iranian hospital
Ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said evacuations from the Imam Ali Hospital in the southwestern city of Andimeshk came after an airstrike a day earlier.
"Suffering patients in the city of Andimeshk were forced to leave the only hospital in the city," Kermanpour wrote on X. Along with this, he also posted images showing a hospital ward with a partially collapsed ceiling, a corridor with broken glass, and debris scattered across the floor.
Israeli military says Iran has fired a new missile barrage
Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is visiting the southern town of Arad, where several people were hurt by a missile strike overnight. The hard-line national security minister said Israel was waging a 'historic battle' against Iran and that it must 'continue until victory'.
Meanwhile, US Central Command said they were clear in their objectives of eliminating Iran's ability to project power against Americans: "U.S. forces remain centered on very clear military objectives in eliminating Iran's ability to project power against Americans, and against its neighbours."
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