Israël continues its raids, Iran retaliates on multiple fronts
On the 17th day of the war engulfing the Middle East, Israel continued to bomb Lebanon and the city of Tehran on Monday. In the United Arab Emirates, Dubai Airport, one of the main hubs of global air traffic, temporarily closed after a fuel tank fire caused by a drone attack.
Despite Iran being subjected to more than two weeks of American-Israeli strikes, U.S. President stated that discussions were ongoing with Tehran, but a war-ending agreement was not yet on the agenda.
Escalation around the Strait of Hormuz: Trump raises the stakes
President Trump intensified pressure on U.S. allies and China to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas traffic passes, crucial for Asian and European economies.
Trump warned of “very bad consequences for NATO’s future” if alliance countries refused to comply, threatening to postpone a planned trip to China.
Japan and Australia refuse
Japan’s Defense Minister stated that due to its pacifist constitution, the country would not consider deploying warships in the region. Australia’s Minister of Transport also confirmed that they would not send ships to the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned countries against responding to Washington’s call, urging them to avoid actions leading to further escalation and conflict extension.
NATO countries caught in the middle
Oil prices, which surged dramatically since the start of the war, showed signs of stability around $100 per barrel on Monday.
Last week, International Energy Agency (IEA) members collectively decided to release 400 million barrels from their strategic reserves, an unprecedented move in the organization’s history.
Israel continues to bomb Tehran and Lebanon
Israel announced a new round of widespread strikes targeting Iranian terrorist regime infrastructure in Tehran and bombings in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, a stronghold of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah Shiite movement.
Iran’s Foreign Minister criticized Israel for bombings that damaged fuel depots in Tehran, warning of potential long-term health and environmental consequences.
Israel briefly went on alert at dawn after detecting missiles launched from Iran.
Dubai Airport temporarily suspended
Since the start of the war, Iran has targeted American military bases and economic interests in its Gulf neighbors, including civilian infrastructure like airports, ports, and oil facilities.
The Iranian Foreign Minister justified these attacks by citing “numerous evidence” that American bases in the region were used to target Iran.
Saudi Arabia reported intercepting 61 drones in the eastern part of the country, and the UAE also faced missile and drone attacks from Iran. Dubai International Airport, a vital center for global air traffic, temporarily halted all flights on Monday following a drone attack on a fuel depot.
