US Conducts New Iran Strikes Along Hormuz Corridor, State Media Cites Return Fire On 3 US Destroyers

US Conducts New Iran Strikes Along Hormuz Corridor, State Media Cites Return Fire On 3 US Destroyers

TYLER DURDEN

Summary

• US military attacks Iran locations on southern coast, and allegations of UAE involvement; Explosions rock Abu Dhabi. CENTCOM says intercepted Iranian counterattacks.

• Iran says US violated ceasefire after Centcom targeted Iranian facilities responsible for attacks; US says ceasefire not violated despite striking Iranian oil tanker and targets in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm.

• The Trump admin mulls restarting operation to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz with naval and air support as early as this week after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait lifted restrictions on US access to their bases and airspaces

• Iran national security commission 'red line': No uranium has left the country; The right to enrich uranium, the complete lifting of sanctions, and the release of the country's assets are non-negotiable red lines.

• French nuclear-powered carrier steams through Suez Canal in support mission as Europe seeks diplomatic influence over Hormuz outcome.

• First Chinese tanker reportedly attacked: shipping industry source told Caixin that this was the first time a Chinese tanker was hit in the three-month-long war, calling it "psychologically very hard to accept."

  
  

  Iran says US violated ceasefire as explosions are reported in the UAE (via Newsquawk)

  
  

  IRAN SAYS US VIOLATED CEASEFIRE

  Iran’s Top Joint Military Command says:

  • The US violated the ceasefire,
  • The US targeted an Iranian oil tanker and another ship entering the Strait of Hormuz,
  • Iran will respond “powerfully and without hesitation.”

  US SOURCE SAID CEASEFIRE NOT VIOLATED

  • US officials, according to Axios/Fox reporting, say:
  • US strikes were carried out in Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas,
  • The strikes do not mean the war has restarted,
  • The ceasefire is not over.

  ATTACKS

  • Iranian media and officials also claimed:
  • Three American destroyers were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz,
  • Iranian missile fire forced enemy units to retreat after suffering damage.

  These claims are unverified.

  • Air defences were activated multiple times around:
  • Tehran
  • Bandar Abbas
  • Qeshm

  REGIONAL TARGETS

  • Iran is accusing the US and “some regional nations” of striking targets in the Strait of Hormuz area.
  • Iranian media outlets reported explosions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai:
  • ISNA: explosions heard in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
  • IRIB/Fars: explosions heard in Abu Dhabi.
  • There is no confirmation yet on cause, damage, or responsibility.

  
  

  CENTCOM confirms attack on Iran, and intercept of Iranian retaliation effort: "U.S. forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with self-defense strikes as U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman, May 7.

  
  

  Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats as USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), and USS Mason (DDG 87) transited the international sea passage. No U.S. assets were struck.

  
  

  U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking U.S. forces including missile and drone launch sites; command and control locations; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance nodes. CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces."

  
  

  Fox News confirming a nighttime US miliary attack on Iran's Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas, however, with US officials seeking to downplay that this marks a restart of the war and bombing campaign. This comes via Fox chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin:

  A senior US official tells me that it was a US military strike on Iran’s Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas moments ago but added this is NOT a restarting of the war or end to the ceasefire.

  The strike on one of Iran’s oil ports comes two days after Iran fired 15 ballistic and cruise missiles at UAE Fujairah Port, eliciting anger from Gulf countries after top Pentagon leaders said Tuesday that the Iranian strikes did not rise to the level of breaking the ceasefire, calling it low level attacks that didn’t rise to that level.

  
  

  There have been allegations of UAE involvement. Since the initial explosions, more follow up blasts have been reported via state media, along with some emerging images:

  • US CONDUCTED STRIKES THURS IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AREA: AXIOS
  • IRAN CLAIMS IT FIRED MISSILES AT THREE US DESTORYERS: TASNIM