The US and Israel are weighing a military response against missile launchers and energy facilities in Iran following the attack on the UAE. As CENTCOM reports the sinking of Iranian attack boats, the Israeli Air Force has returned to its highest state of readiness. Despite reports that Iron Dome was involved in interceptions in the Gulf, Israel remains tense, and wating. The Iranian response to the US operation to move ships through the Strait of Hormuz surprised the West. The Iranians chose not to settle for firing at vessels passing through the strait, and also directly attacked the United Arab Emirates, the country that has absorbed the heaviest Iranian fire throughout the war because of its ties with Israel and its firm policy against Tehran.
Iran's focus on the southern port of Fujairah points to a strategic intention to disrupt activity at the port, which bypasses the need to sail through the Strait of Hormuz. The Americans and Israel are now holding intensive consultations on the nature of the response and on assistance to their loyal ally. According to three officials familiar with the matter, the most likely options include targeted strikes on launchers and military targets threatening the strait, or a parallel strike on an Iranian energy facility in response to the attack on Fujairah. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump sent an especially forceful message, making clear that Iran would be "wiped off the face of the earth" if it dared attack American vessels taking part in "Project Freedom," the operation to reopen the strait. Trump stressed that the buildup of US forces in the region was continuing at all times.
Despite the threats, the US intention is to continue the operation to reopen the strait. The commander of US Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, said vessels representing 87 countries were in the Gulf, calling them "neutral and innocent bystanders." He said contact had been made in the past 12 hours with dozens of shipping companies in an effort to encourage the flow of traffic through the narrow trade corridor, while providing close security by US forces. Cooper ordered his forces at sea and in the air to prevent threats to ships, both through active defense and offensive action against attack boats and missile launch sites on the Iranian coast, a move that constitutes a significant change in the rules of engagement. Cooper said cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles had been aimed mainly at commercial shipping, but all were intercepted. He added that small boats moving toward merchant ships had been sunk by Apache and Seahawk helicopters. (Read More)
