Trump orders new attack on Iran after pledging to ‘hit them hard’ | World | News
Donald Trump has ordered the US military to carry out new attacks on Iranian targets, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said. The US have started “additional strikes” after Iran’s “recent unjustified aggression” on civilian crews.
A message from the Central Command read: “At the direction of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway.”
Yesterday (7 July) the US Command said several targets were hit after “a series of powerful strikes” which started after alleged Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Later on, the Command added that “over 80 targets” were hit.
Three civilian vessels were hit in the strait earlier on Tuesday, according to UN International Maritime Organisation figures. Iran, however, did not claim any of the attacks. President Trump appeared to launch an ultimatum to Iran earlier this week, saying “we’re either going to have a deal or we’re going to have a war”.
Speaking at the NATO summit held in Turkey yesterday and today (7 July and 8 July), the president said: “If we make a deal with Iran, I’m not sure that will stick because I found them to be very dishonourable. We hit them very hard last night, very, very hard,” adding that the US will “probably hit them hard again tonight”.
His comments on the fragile ceasefire caused another spike in oil prices. Brent crude oil jumped by around 6.5% to $79 a barrel on Wednesday morning after Mr Trump said the ceasefire was over. Mr Trump’s comments also followed months of intermittent conflict and intense diplomatic manoeuvring between Washington and Tehran. “We’re either going to have a deal or we’re going to have a war,” the US President said.
Despite a two-week ceasefire was agreed in April, and later extended indefinitely, the situation in the Middle East remains precarious.
