War in the Middle East: the latest developments

The latest developments on Monday in connection with the war in the Middle East, where a fragile ceasefire came into effect on April 8: – Iran denies intention to target the UAE, denounces “American military adventurism” The Islamic Republic did not have a “plan” to strike the important Emirati oil facility of Fujairah, stated Iranian state television, citing an unidentified senior officer. This officer denounced the consequences of “American military adventurism,” referring to the operation announced by Donald Trump to block ships trapped in the Gulf by closing off the Strait of Hormuz. – Von der Leyen condemns Iranian strikes on the Emirates Attacks carried out by Iran represent “a clear violation of sovereignty and international law,” denounced the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressing “total solidarity” with the United Arab Emirates. – Oil prices soar, Brent jumps by over 5% The rise in oil prices intensifies following new attacks in the United Arab Emirates and the Strait of Hormuz despite the truce between the United States and Iran. The price of Brent crude for delivery in July, the international benchmark, surged by 5.80% to $114.44 at the close of markets on Monday. Its American equivalent, West Texas Intermediate for delivery in June, rose by 4.36% to $106.42. – Hormuz: “no damage” except for a South Korean ship, Trump says The American President assured that there had been “no damage” in the Strait of Hormuz, except for shots fired at a South Korean vessel. According to the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an “explosion” followed by a fire hit a ship chartered by a South Korean company in the strait. The American President also stated that the United States had destroyed seven Iranian vessels, while the US Navy had reported six boats. – US military announces destruction of six Iranian boats, Tehran denies American forces announced the destruction of six Iranian boats and “successfully neutralized” missiles and drones launched by Iran against ships of the US Navy and commercial vessels. A senior Iranian military official, cited by state television, denied the destruction of Iranian ships. – Oman: two injured in an attack on a residential building Two foreigners were injured in an attack on a residential building in the coastal town of Bukha in Oman, on the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by a state media outlet. – Emirates: three injured in a strike on an oil site A drone attack on the oil site of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates injured three individuals of Indian nationality, according to local authorities. – Resumption of Iranian strikes against the Emirates The United Arab Emirates announced being hit by an Iranian drone attack and intercepting cruise missiles, in the first strikes from Tehran in over a month, undermining the ceasefire. “These attacks represent a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable transgression,” reacted the Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding that the country “fully reserves the legitimate right to respond to these attacks.” – Southern Lebanon: Hezbollah reports clashes with Israeli army The pro-Iranian Hezbollah reported ongoing clashes in a border town in southern Lebanon with Israeli forces, despite the ceasefire in effect. – Hormuz: Iran denies passage of merchant ships following American announcement The Iranian Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, denied that merchant ships had crossed the Strait of Hormuz, as asserted by the US Central Command (Centcom). Two merchant ships flying the American flag successfully passed through this strategic passage, as earlier announced by Centcom. – Iran claims to have fired missiles as a warning against US military ships The Iranian navy launched shots, including cruise missiles, as a warning against US military ships in the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by state television, citing the army.