The United Arab Emirates has reported missile and drone attacks from Iran, the first such strikes since the April ceasefire. The attacks come as the US regime attempts to restore shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz under the so-called 'Project Freedom' initiative.
The UAE Defense Ministry stated that four cruise missiles were detected approaching from Iran, three of which were intercepted over territorial waters while the fourth fell into the sea. A fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, allegedly caused by an Iranian attack, with civil defense teams deployed to contain the blaze.
Iranian military sources purportedly warned the UAE that if it sides with Israel, it will 'learn a lesson they will never forget.' The semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted an unnamed source describing the UAE as 'sitting in a very fragile glass house.'
The US regime's Central Command (CENTCOM) claimed that two US-flagged merchant vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz as a 'first step' in Project Freedom. Admiral Brad Cooper alleged that military helicopters sank six Iranian small boats targeting civilian vessels, though independent verification remains lacking.
Iran has stated that US efforts to guide ships through the strait constitute a violation of the ceasefire. Tehran claims it is weighing Washington's response to a 14-point proposal, while the US regime continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Oil prices surged sharply, with Brent crude trading above $114 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate near $105, reflecting heightened supply concerns. This marks a significant increase from February levels of around $65.
The German navy's mine-hunter FGS Fulda departed Kiel for the Mediterranean, allegedly pre-positioning for a potential European mission to secure maritime transport in the Strait of Hormuz. The German embassy stated that any deployment requires 'a sustainable end to hostilities, a mandate under international law, and authorization from the Bundestag.'
Qatar's Foreign Ministry condemned Iran's reported drone attack on a UAE oil tanker as a 'blatant violation of international law' and rejected the use of the Strait of Hormuz as a 'tool of pressure.'
South Korea's Foreign Ministry is investigating a fire and explosion on an HMM-operated vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, with 24 crew members aboard and no casualties reported.
The UAE Interior Ministry issued a mobile phone alert warning of potential missile threats for the first time since early April, though it lifted the warning within half an hour, urging continued caution.
Source: www.dw.com