US Bombs Iran for Ninth Day as Standoff Over Hormuz Deepens
(Bloomberg) -- The US conducted a ninth straight day of airstrikes on Iran, trying to force the Islamic Republic to stop shipping attacks and reopen
(Bloomberg) -- The US conducted a ninth straight day of airstrikes on Iran, trying to force the Islamic Republic to stop shipping attacks and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The American military bombed military targets and communications networks in a three-hour operation ending around 5:30 a.m. Iranian time on Monday. Iran continued to attack US bases in the likes of Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain and Iraq. The standoff shows no sign of easing, with Iran refusing to relent over Hormuz and insisting it has a right to manage traffic through the waterway. Energy prices have jumped on the worsening hostilities. Brent crude oil rose to above $90 a barrel for the first time in more than five weeks in early trading on Monday. Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What triggered the recent increase in US airstrikes on Iran? ⌵ The increase in US airstrikes on Iran was triggered by ongoing Iranian attacks on US bases in Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, and Iraq, as well as threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. 2 Why is the Strait of Hormuz significant in the US-Iran conflict? ⌵ The Strait of Hormuz is significant because it is a key maritime route through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass, thus making it a focal point of military and commercial interests. 3 How has the US military responded to the conflict with Iran in recent days?
⌵ The US military has responded by conducting multiple airstrikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, including command centers, air defense systems, and communication networks, over a span of ten consecutive nights. 4 Should the US consider a ceasefire with Iran amidst ongoing hostilities? ⌵ The US is currently evaluating proposals for a ceasefire, but both sides appear determined to strengthen their negotiating positions before committing to a truce due to the recent escalation in violence. 5 What have been the casualties reported from the US airstrikes against Iran? ⌵ Casualties reported from US airstrikes include over 50 people killed and more than 500 injured in Iran, while at least 17 American service members have been killed since the conflict escalated. The tit-for-tat attacks are getting deadlier. The US military announced the death of a service member in northern Iraq on Saturday during a “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone. That was a day after two others were killed in an Iranian attack on Jordan, with another service member still missing from the same strike. Iran says US strikes have killed more than 50 people and wounded over 500 since the most recent flare-up between the two sides began just under two weeks ago. A US-Iran interim peace deal signed a month ago has all but collapsed, and talks over Tehran’s nuclear program and a permanent cessation of hostilities have stalled. That’s unlikely to change until Washington and the Islamic Republic can reach an agreement over shipping in the Hormuz strait, through which one fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies typically flowed before the conflict began.
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