The two countries continue to escalate a war that has now been going on for six months. Eleven people were killed in Israeli air strikes carried out overnight on a village in southern Lebanon, including two babies, after attacks yesterday had already claimed seven lives despite the ongoing ceasefire
Iran: Erdogan: ‘Regional peace undermined by Israel’s lies and sabotage’
“Israel’s war, which began with its plots and provocations, is being paid for not only by the Iranian people and our brothers in the Gulf states, but by everyone, whether they are involved or not.” This was stated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who accused Israel of obstructing efforts to end the war between the United States, Israel and Iran. “It was also Israel’s lies and sabotage that undermined the Islamabad agreement, which had allowed our entire region to breathe a sigh of relief,” added Erdogan, in a statement released on X by his office. The Turkish president argued that the crises in the region cannot be resolved because of Israel’s “radical mindset”, “which perceives even the slightest possibility of peace as a threat to itself”.
US sources tell Al Jazeera: ‘The Strait of Hormuz is fully open and under control’
The Strait of Hormuz is “completely open” and under the control of the US Navy. A senior US official made this statement to Al Jazeera in response to Iranian threats to establish a restricted-access zone in the Strait. According to the official, the situation is also the result of a covert mine-clearing operation carried out last April by the US Navy – previously reported by the Financial Times – during which US special forces reportedly removed around 80 naval mines. Washington now expects a further increase in maritime traffic. The official added that the United States is satisfied with the current flow of oil and gas through Hormuz, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright citing a volume of around 9 million barrels a day. Washington also believes that the economic pressure campaign launched last month has “completely” damaged the Iranian economy through sanctions and a tightening of the naval blockade, which the official described as “the most effective in history”. Around 20 vessels are reportedly still engaged in the operation, including those escorting commercial ships through the Strait.
Orsa and USB: call for the report on the suspicious containers at Gioia Tauro to be made public
“We do not question the good faith and professionalism of those who carried out the investigations. However, we call for the expert report to be made public, for UAMA and the Customs Agency to disclose the administrative documents relating to the transit, and for Parliament to be given the opportunity to verify the facts”. This is the position set out in a statement by the trade unions Orsa Mari e Porti and USB Calabria regarding the containers that arrived at the port of Gioia Tauro and were inspected by the Guardia di Finanza and the Customs Agency on suspicion that they contained military equipment destined for Israel. “According to press agencies,” the statement continues, “the steel shipment is reported to have already left Gioia Tauro bound for Israel. At present, however, we understand that all 16 containers are still held up in the port area.”