Iran’s Revolutionary Guards tell ships passage through Strait of Hormuz ‘not allowed’

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards tell ships passage through Strait of Hormuz ‘not allowed’

Reuters

An official from the European Union’s naval mission Aspides says that vessels have been receiving VHF transmission from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards saying “no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz.”

The strait is the world’s most vital oil export route, which connects the biggest Gulf oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

The official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, says Iran had not formally confirmed any such order. Tehran has for years threatened to block the narrow waterway in retaliation for any attack on the Islamic Republic.

Iran fires missiles at US bases across Middle East after American strikes on nuclear, IRGC sites

Iran fires missiles at US bases across Middle East after American strikes on nuclear, IRGC sites

Morgan Phillips

Iran launched missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. military facilities in multiple Middle Eastern countries Friday, retaliating after coordinated U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear-linked sites.

Explosions were reported in or near areas hosting American forces in Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Jordan, according to regional officials and state media accounts. Several of those governments said their air defense systems intercepted incoming projectiles.

It remains unclear whether any U.S. service members were killed or injured, and the extent of potential damage to American facilities has not yet been confirmed. U.S. officials have not publicly released casualty figures or formal damage assessments.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described the operation as a direct response to what Tehran called "aggression" against Iranian territory earlier in the day. Iranian officials claimed they targeted U.S. military infrastructure and command facilities.

The United States military earlier carried out strikes against what officials described as high-value Iranian targets, including IRGC facilities, naval assets and underground sites believed to be associated with Iran’s nuclear program. One U.S. official told Fox News that American forces had "suppressed" Iranian air defenses in the initial wave of strikes.

Tomahawk cruise missiles were used in the opening phase of the U.S. operation, according to a U.S. official. The campaign was described as a multi-geographic operation designed to overwhelm Iran’s defensive capabilities and could continue for multiple days. Officials also indicated the U.S. employed one-way attack drones in combat for the first time.

Iran’s retaliatory barrage targeted countries that host American forces, including Bahrain — home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet — as well as Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base and the UAE’s Al Dhafra Air Base. Authorities in those nations reported intercepting many of the incoming missiles. At least one civilian was killed in the UAE by falling debris, according to local authorities.

Iranian officials characterized their response as proportionate and warned of additional action if strikes continue. A senior U.S. official described the Iranian retaliation as "ineffective," though independent assessments of the overall impact are still developing

Regional governments condemned the strikes on their territory as violations of sovereignty, raising the risk that additional countries could become directly involved if escalation continues.

The situation remains fluid, with military and diplomatic channels active across the region. Pentagon officials are expected to provide further updates as damage assessments and casualty reviews are completed.

UN calls emergency Security Council meeting after strikes on Iran

UN calls emergency Security Council meeting after strikes on Iran

The UN Security Council called an emergency meeting after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory strikes by Tehran.

The session, due to start at 4 p.m. (2100 GMT), will address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations said. The meeting was urged by France and Bahrain, according to the Israeli delegation to the world body.

Sirens Sound Across Israel Amid Iranian Ballistic Missile Attacks

Sirens Sound Across Israel Amid Iranian Ballistic Missile Attacks

Harbingers Live Updates

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran’s response to the joint U.S.-Israel attack on the country would be to target “all” U.S. military bases in the region.

U.S. military infrastructure within Iran’s missile range include: Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, forward headquarters for U.S. Central Command; Naval Support Activity Bahrain, home to the U.S. 5th Fleet; Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, a major Army logistics and command hub; Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, used by U.S. Air Force units; Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia; Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates; and Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, which hosts U.S. aircraft.

The foreign minister’s threats came as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued an urgent warning to all people staying inside or near military industrial factories and military infrastructure across Iran.

“You are in proximity to weapons and facilities that are dangerous,” the IDF wrote in a statement.

“For the sake of your safety and health, we kindly request that you immediately evacuate these areas and remain outside them until a new announcement is issued,” they continued. “Your presence in these locations puts your life at risk.”

Israel’s Sheba Medical Center says it is moving patients and services underground into protected areas as Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran.

“As of this morning, Sheba Medical Center has switched to advanced preparedness mode in preparation for the strike in Iran,” says Prof.Itai Pessach, Deputy Director General, Sheba Medical Center. “We are in the process of moving all our Department of Services into protected areas.”

“However, all the medical services continue as usual, and we provide the care needed for citizens and people here in Israel,” says Pessach.

Reza Pahlavi, a leader of the Iranian opposition in exile, on Saturday called the joint Israeli-U.S. military strikes in Iran a “humanitarian intervention” that offered Iranians a chance to “reclaim” their country.

“The aid that the President of the United States promised to the brave people of Iran has now arrived,” Pahlavi said in a video message he posted on X shortly after the launch of “Operation Lion’s Roar,” the name Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used on Sunday to refer to his country’s actions in Iran. Pahlavi did not mention Israel in his speech.

Smoke was seen billowing above Bahrain’s Juffair area, housing a US Navy base, witnesses told Reuters on Saturday morning. 

The US Embassy in Bahrain urged citizens to shelter in place while citing media reports of threats of missiles and drones over Bahraini airspace.

The Bahraini Interior Ministry later confirmed that a warning alarm siren had been activated, with citizens and residents requested to head to the nearest safe place.

A source living in Manama, Bahrain, confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that blasts were heard in the area.

Bahrain hosts the US Central Command’s 5th Fleet.

More...

Times Liveblogging: Israeli strikes target Khamenei, Pezeshkian as Netanyahu says Israel, US intend to ‘remove existential threat’ posed by Iran

Israeli strikes target Khamenei, Pezeshkian as Netanyahu says Israel, US intend to ‘remove existential threat’ posed by Iran

 Times of Israel is liveblogging Saturday

Iran tells residents to evacuate Tehran; those who stay stocking up on supplies

Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, reports that officials converted a key highway linking the capital to northern Iran into a one-way route to accommodate the heavy outbound traffic.

The agency reports heavy traffic heading north out of the capital.

Iran’s top national security body had earlier told residents they should consider leaving Tehran for their safety.

In northern Tehran, supermarkets are seeing a surge of customers seeking bread and bottled water. However, supply has been limited, and some of the items most in demand — including bread, eggs, bottled water and milk — are currently unavailable in certain stores.

Long queues have also been observed at gas stations across the city.

State television shows footage from one of Tehran’s highways, Soleimani highway, where extremely heavy traffic was visible on west-to-east routes.

IDF says it completed wave of strikes targeting strategic Iranian air defenses

The IDF says it has completed an extensive wave of airstrikes targeting “strategic” Iranian air defense systems.

One of the targets was an “advanced SA-65 air defense system” deployed in the Kermanshah area, according to the military.

“The IDF continues at this time to strike infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in order to cause a blow to the regime and thwart threats to the Israeli home front,” the military adds.

More explosions heard in Abu Dhabi, Manama, Doha

Residents and AFP correspondents in the Emirati, Qatari and Bahraini capitals hear more explosions, as Iran launches waves of retaliatory strikes in the Gulf following US and Israeli attacks.

An AFP correspondent in Manama heard at least two blasts, with journalists in Qatar reporting a new wave of explosions. Residents in Abu Dhabi also heard explosions.

Two witnesses tell AFP they saw smoke rising from Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra base, which hosts US troops.

IRGC chief, defense minister killed in opening strikes sources say

Iranian FM slams ‘illegal’ strikes, says Trump acting in Israel’s interests

Sirens sound in central Israel, IDF working to intercept missiles

Israeli TV report, citing unnamed Israeli sources: Growing indications that Khamenei killed

Israeli TV report, citing unnamed Israeli sources: Growing indications that Khamenei killed

Israel “assesses” that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was likely killed in an Israeli strike earlier today, Channel 12 says, citing unnamed Israeli sources. It says there are “growing indications” to this effect.

There is no official confirmation of the report.

The TV station had minutes earlier said the Israeli assessment was that Khamenei was “hurt at the very least, ” and that this was not an assessment based on satellite imagery showing Khamenei’s presidential compound being flattened, but rather on information from unnamed sources.

Khamenei is reportedly expected to deliver an address shortly. The TV report suggests that, if so, it was recorded in advance.

Channel 12 also reports that the strikes today have caused “very significant harm” to the leadership of the Iranian regime and its military commanders.

Israel’s Kan state TV says “there is no contact” with Khamenei and his condition is not known.

MORE....