The United States launched air strikes against Iran on Saturday night (18), for the eighth consecutive day. Bombings were recorded in the city of Sirik, in the south of the country, in yet another episode of the conflict in the Middle East. There were no reports of casualties or damage to infrastructure.
Also on Saturday (18), the Iranian army claimed to have attacked two US bases in Kuwait, with drones, hitting a US military support center and facilities at Ali Al Salem Air Base.
Amid the escalation of hostilities between Tehran and Washington, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran stated that the US attacked a nuclear plant under construction in the country in the early hours of this Sunday (19). The agency classified the attack on the Darkhovin plant as an “aggressive and brutal act contrary to international law”, in a statement released by the state-owned company Press TV.
Response
According to the Central Command of the US Armed Forces (Centcom), President Donald Trump’s order is a response to the death of two US soldiers in Iranian attacks on the country’s military bases in Jordan. An American soldier remains missing.
“These attacks [em Sirik] are intended to further reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces that launched attacks against American military personnel in Jordan last night,” the Command said.
Escalation of conflict
On Friday (17), Iran’s Revolutionary Guard confirmed that it carried out an attack with drones and missiles against the US base Al-Azraq, in Jordan, hitting two fighters and two aircraft. According to the US Armed Forces Command, four soldiers were injured, two died and one remains missing.
This brings the number of US military casualties since the US and Israel started the war to 16. The conflict in the Middle East began on February 28 with bombings by both countries against Iranian territory.
According to Iran’s Health Ministry, 50 people have died and more than 500 have been injured in US strikes in recent weeks. The escalation of aggressions resumed on July 7, ending the fragile ceasefire that began in June.
‘Unforgettable lesson’
According to Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, Tehran has officially suspended all commitments made in the memorandum of understanding signed with the United States. The supreme leader of the Persian country, Mojtaba Khamenei, had already stated that Donald Trump has failed to comply with all agreements and that his signature has no value.
Faced with the new attacks, Khamenei promised to give the Americans an “unforgettable lesson”. The ayatollah took over after his father’s death in the first joint US-Israeli attack.
“Now that the American enemy seeks to foment war and suffer higher costs and greater humiliation, it should know that the beloved nation of Iran and the Resistance Front have unforgettable lessons in store for it, lessons of which the courage of the warriors of Islam and the zeal of the brave people of the southern region have provided clear examples in recent days,” the supreme leader said.
Deputy Minister Kazem Gharibabadi claimed that the repeated aggressions against Iran demonstrate that the US ignores its negotiating commitments. “What we have before us now is the resolute defense of the country and a lesson for the aggressors,” he said. “If they are wise, they should choose other approaches”, he concluded.
*With information from AFP and Telesur
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
